University of Mobile students were reminded by Danny Akin to “run the race well and keep looking to Jesus” during the Feb. 26 chapel service. He shared a practical message from Hebrews 12:1–3 on how to finish strong and not give up or get discouraged along the way.
“How do you run this race?” Akin asked. “Verse two gives us the key — looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith.
“The Bible says you are in a race, and God has placed you there,” he noted. “It’s not a sprinter’s race; it’s a long-distance race. You need a particular strategy to begin the race well, to run the race well, and by God’s grace, finish the race well.”
Finding encouragement
Referring to Hebrews 11, Akin reminded students to “find encouragement as you run.”
“The imagery is real clear, isn’t it? You and I are in a stadium,” he noted. “We’re not in the stands watching — we are down on the track running. But the grandstands are filled with men and women of faith who have already run the race and crossed the finish line. The Bible says you need to look at these men and women for encouragement as you run the race. You aren’t running this race alone.”
Focus on essentials
Akin also reminded students to “focus on some essentials as you run.”
“You need to remove the weights that can slow you down, get rid of the sin of unbelief and run with endurance,” Akin said. “God is not impressed with shooting-star Christians. They go up for a night and burn really bright, and then they vanish in the midnight darkness never to be seen again.
He noted, “It does cost to follow Jesus. It’s not for the weak of heart. He never promised you an easy way, but He did promise you to be with you every step of the way. That’s why the Bible says you have got to lay aside the weight, you’ve got to kick to the curb the sin of unbelief, and you’ve got to show up every day and just run patiently day after day after day.”
Akin instructed students to follow the example of Jesus daily as they run their race.
Keep going
“How do you run the race?” Akin asked students. “Look to Jesus. … Focus straight ahead to what’s in front of you. ‘Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…’ How did Jesus find joy in enduring the cross? Jesus knew it was His Father’s will. Jesus also knew it was the only way to save you and me from our sins.
“Keep following Jesus as you run this race — look to Him, meditate on Him and think about Him each day and in every area of your life so that you may not grow weary or become faint-hearted or discouraged or depressed and drop out of the race.”
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