PASTOR’S CORNER

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 This last Sunday the Kansas City Chiefs were playing at home against the Chicago Bears. It was the NFL, it was a football game, but the camera kept panning back to one of the sky boxes and getting shot after shot of the people that were watching that game. The main one was a lady named Taylor Swift. Taylor is a very popular singer right now, and is rumored to be dating Travis Kelce the All Pro Tight End for the Chiefs. After the game in which the Chiefs won, it was almost implied that Travis had to score and do good, because of this very special guest there that was watching him.

It made me remember how special I felt when people came to watch me play sports when I was in High School. The one that hardly ever missed any of my games was my dad, and I know I really wanted to do something special for him because he meant so much to me.

The writer of Hebrews in chapters 11 and 12 really gives you a great picture of people of great faith through the past, and basically says these people who have meant so much for all the people of faith are a “cloud of witnesses” or in other words watching on from above, and because of that we should want to live our lives of faith seeking to be as strong and faithful as they were. Not only that, but right there beside all of this great cloud of witnesses “the famous heroes of our faith” there is our parent. Right beside Taylor that Sunday was Travis’ mom, and right beside the cloud of witnesses is our Father, the God of all creation. What is He doing? Well, He is cheering for you!! He wants you to live this life in the life that Jesus promised, which is the life of abundance. The life that includes walking in the spirit, being a light of hope to the world, proclaiming the freedom that comes through and in Jesus Christ and how we can win in our battle with the enemy of sin and death and so much more!

So knowing that we have this group on our side, what is your response? Well, for me, I want to win! I want to do my very best! And the way to do my very best in this life event that God has me in, is to throw off those tacklers, you know those things that try to get me down like worry and anxiety to name a couple. You know all those things that are in our everyday life that would keep us from thinking about what God has called us to. And also, the sin that so easily entangles us, which means we have to remember that like a finely tuned athlete, there are just things that we will not allow ourselves to do or be a part of anymore. But then there is one more thing that is crucial to our being successful and that is where we look.

A runner looks toward the finish line in a race, a football player towards the endzone, a basketball player toward the goal, and for us and really for all people, we are to look toward the one who is above all things. We are to look toward Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith! Folks, having Taylor Swift in your press box for a game is pretty cool, but having the Lord Jesus cheering you on every day of your life is…well,, it is LIFE CHANGING!!! Run that race of faith expecting to win, because you know what? In Jesus we do!!!!

(Editor’s Note: This column is written by a different Littlefield pastor for the Leader-News each week. The columns are published on this page on Wednesdays.)