From pray’r that asks that I may be

C. With Endurance

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There is much opposition to this race. Thus, we must run it with endurance (12:1). This means that in order to run the race of Christ, we must suffer the opposition with endurance, never growing weary or fainting in our souls.

D. By Looking Away from All Things

In verse 2 Paul told the Hebrew believers to look away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith. The Greek word translated “looking away unto” means to look with undivided attention by turning away from every other object. The runners in a race, such as the hundred yard dash, turn away from everything else and look at the goal with undivided attention. In this verse Paul seemed to be saying, “Hebrew brothers, do not stand there considering and looking around. You must turn away from everything other than Christ and look to Him with undivided attention. This is the way to run the race. ” The Hebrew believers had to look away from all the things of their situation, away from their old religion and its persecution, and away from all earthly things that they might look unto Jesus who is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God in the heavens.

E. By Looking unto Jesus Who Is Now Seated at the Right Hand of the Throne of God in the Heavens

Paul told the Hebrew believers to look “away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ” From 1:3 , this book points us continually to the Christ seated in heaven. In all his other epistles, Paul mainly presents to us the Christ who dwells in our spirit (Rom. 8:10 ; 2 Tim. 4:22) as the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45 , ASV) to be our life and our everything. But in this book, he points us particularly to the Christ seated in heaven with so many aspects to care for us in every way. In Paul’s other epistles, the indwelling Christ is versus our flesh, self, and natural man. In this book, the heavenly Christ is contrasted with the earthly religion and all earthly things. To experience the indwelling Christ we need to turn to our spirit and contact Him. To enjoy the heavenly Christ we need to look away from all things on earth unto Him who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. By His death and resurrection He has accomplished everything that is needed for both God and us. Now in His ascension He is sitting in the heavens, in the Person of the Son of God (1:5) and the Son of Man (2:6), in the Person of God (1:8) and man (2:6), as the appointed Heir of all things (1:2), the Anointed One of God (1:9), the Captain of our salvation (2:10), the Sanctifier (2:11), the instant Helper and constant Succor (2:18), the Apostle from God (3:1), the High Priest (2:17 ; 4:14 ; 7:26), the Minister in the true tabernacle (8:2) with a more excellent ministry (8:6), the Surety and the Mediator of a better covenant (7:22 ; 8:6 ; 12:24), the Executor of the new testament (9:16-17), the Forerunner (6:20), the Author and Perfecter of faith (12:2), and as the great Shepherd of the sheep (13:20). If we look unto Him as such a wonderful and all-inclusive One, He, ministering heaven, life, and strength to us, will transfuse and infuse us with all that He is to enable us to run the heavenly race and to live the heavenly life on earth, carrying us through all the lifelong pathway and leading and bringing us into glory (2:10).

Life-study of Hebrews
Message 50 Run the Race
(LSM)

Let us see how the Lord Jesus ran the race. He, “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. ” The Lord Jesus ran straight by looking unto the joy set before Him. What kind of joy is this? He Himself had said, “Good and faithful slave... enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21). This refers to the joy of His millennial reign. According to His holy nature, our Lord is submissive to God. But the Bible also reveals another side of the truth: God’s reward and approval, especially the kingdom, exercised some influence on Him. Our Lord went through all the shame and the cross and never drew back because of the joy set before Him.

Notes on Scriptural Messages
Message 24 Running the Race That Is Set before Us
(LSM)

Jesus, the One we look unto, is such a Jesus. He “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). This is His case. In principle, the process should be the same for us too.

Shame was given to Him by men, and He despised it. The cross was given to Him by God, and He endured it. He was misunderstood, expelled, accused, forsaken, and condemned by people, but He did not care. It was not that the shame was never very severe; the shame He encountered was something ordinary men have never encountered. It was not that His holy emotion did not feel shame when He was insulted; His feeling was probably keener than that of anyone else. However, He despised it; He did not pay attention to the shame. The cross God gave Him was not light. What He went through before men, demons, and angels was not something easy. However, our Lord endured the cross. He took it. He endured it. What was the result? He was victorious to the end and “has sat down on the right hand of the throne, ” waiting for the appearance of glory.

Notes on Scriptural Messages
Message 24 Running the Race That Is Set before Us
CWWN, vol. 17 (LSM)

Oh I haven’t found the vocals to this song, I wish I could sing it! Anyone knows if there is a recording for this song?

Naturally we like to take the easy way. Amy Carmichael was not this kind of person. She also expected that those who served with her had the same willingness and heart to suffer for the Lord's sake. This hymn has some descriptive expressions such as "silken self," "love of softening things," and "easy choices" which describe the hindrances in following the Lord. - Songs of the Spirit by Martin

The piano music is so excellent that it sounds like a live piano being played. It musters all my strength to obtain the mercy and grace of the Supreme Lord and battle the Devil and Satan.