Good morning.

Life is not a race against others.

Don’t waste your time and energy comparing and worrying about who is ahead, or behind you. Focus on yourself.

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 without perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 NIV

What does the author of Hebrews mean by the “great cloud of witnesses?” In the previous chapter of Hebrews we are told of the great heroes of faith from Old Testament times. These are the ones who in their own unique ways ran the race God set before them and triumphed.

Like them, we who now live in New Testament times should run the race God sets before us. We are not literally surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, but we should run the race with confidence knowing that God is looking on us and cheering us on to the same kind of victory they achieved through faith. 

Have a great day.