A meditation on Hebrews 12:1 TPT.
“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.” (Hebrews 12:1 TPT)
We have all of these great witnesses in the faith – people who came before us and those who run alongside us now – who encircle us like clouds. Their faith surrounds us like the God in Exodus who was a cloud. Their faith guides us.
We must let go of every wound that has pierced us. Others (knowingly and intentionally or not) have wounded us, sometimes deeply. But with God’s help, we can receive healing. Forgiving them for wounding us brings us healing. Then we can let go of the wounds and allow them to heal completely.
We must let go of the sin we so easily fall into. Which sin? Every sin. Pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, sexual sin, gossip, etc. etc. Every sin. Let God unhook your fingers grasping so tightly to the things that hold you back from God. Release your grip, seek forgiveness, repent fully, and be free.
This Sin is easy to fall into because we live life on the edge of the temptation. We dance too close to the cliff. We tempt ourselves by moving too close to things that will burn us. We swat at things that sting and, et, expect them not to sting us. We repeatedly revisit things that caused and cause our downfall. We ignore God’s boundaries, God’s guardrails, God’s marked and good paths.
When we choose to turn from sin and allow God to heal our wounds, then we are freed to fully run the race of life. The race of life is an obstacle course, full of agony and conflict, but long like a marathon. Yet, God has marked out the proper path for us to run. God has a race – a destiny – for each of us to fully go after. When we run God’s path for us, we run with passion and determination.
God,
Thank you for those who have gone before us in the faith and witness to us. Thank you for the plans and purposes you have for our lives. Help us to let go of all sins and wounds that keep us from fully running the race you have set for us and living life abundantly in relationship with you. We ask in Christ’s name, Amen.