From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek “And the Crowd Goes Wild” “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us” -Hebrews 12:1 What if each of us had our own cheering section in life- a crowd that gathered daily to cheer us on and encourage us? I know there are plenty of days I could benefit from something like that. Hebrews 12:1-2 lays out the image of a runner who is inside a crowded stadium with masses cheering them on. The race is the race of faith and the crowds are all those saints who have gone before us and already finished the race. They are shrouded in glory and cheer us on in our race of faith. I love this image. I love the idea that we are never alone in our walk of faith. I believe we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We are all, in one way or another, a product of saints who invested in our lives and in our faith. The thought that those saints now cheer us on in our own faith journey is humbling and energizing. The race set before us is more like a marathon than a sprint. It is one of endurance and pilgrimage. The word for perseverance here in verse one means literally “steadfast endurance”. It is the Greek word huponomē. It means one who patiently endures something until they eventually master it. This is contrasted to an endurance that just takes things as they are and tries to survive. It is mastering faith and life that we are called to. None of these things are possible without Jesus- the perfect example of faith who has run the race and finished with excellence. In this month of March, I pray you might feel the saints cheering you one in life. I pray that you might have steadfast endurance in all matters of faith. And I pray that you might feel the presence of Jesus in all things. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter March 2020
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