Hebrews 12:1-2 (NOG): “Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. We must focus on Yeshua, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.”

Beloved congregation,

In the race of life, determination is vital. Yet, more crucial is where we fix our gaze and to whom we remain faithful. Hebrews instructs us to run with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

This Scripture captures the heart of our message today: determination brings your best to actions, but faithful determination is what truly defines winning. Jesus didn’t promise us an easy path. He promised His presence, His guidance, and His ultimate victory through our faithfulness.

In our daily lives, we are constantly presented with challenges that test our resolve. It’s easy to seek shortcuts or temporary fixes, but such paths are often void of lasting fulfilment and spiritual growth. The true path to success, as Christians, is rooted in our faithfulness to God.

Think about the athlete training for a race. It’s not the shortcuts that lead to victory but the disciplined, faithful training. Likewise, our spiritual race requires us to throw off everything that hinders us, to reject sin, and to steadfastly pursue our relationship with God.

Being faithful to God means trusting Him with every aspect of our lives, knowing that He is working all things for our good. It’s about believing that through Him, we have already won, no matter the earthly outcome. This faithful living not only brings our best to every action but also aligns us with God’s transformative power.

As we commit to this faithful journey, let’s encourage each other to keep our eyes on Jesus. Let us run our race with perseverance, trust in God’s promises, and celebrate the true victory that comes from a life lived in faithful devotion to Him. Amen.