Running Together

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1–2 (NRSVUE)

There are plenty of gyms in my area, but the one we go to is different. Not everyone finds this at their gym, but for many of us it has become more than a place to work out; it’s a place where people know your name, notice when you’re missing, and check in when life gets heavy. It’s a place where we celebrate victories, walk through losses, and hold one another in prayer. It’s a community of body, mind, and spirit — a reminder that we are stronger when we show up for one another.

Hebrews 12 paints a similar picture. The writer invites us to imagine our lives of faith as a race — not a lonely marathon, but a course lined with people who cheer, encourage, and remind us who we are. The “great cloud of witnesses” is the communion of saints — those who have run before us and those who run beside us now — showing us what faithfulness looks like in real time. And at the center of it all is Jesus, the one who runs with us, sets the pace, and shows us how to persevere with grace, courage, and love. 

This is who the church is at its core — a community shaped by Christ, where we learn to know one another’s names, carry one another’s burdens, and remind one another of the hope that keeps us moving forward. 

The church isn’t a building or a program; it’s people learning to run the race together, trusting that God meets us in the relationships that sustain us. When we show up for one another, we live into the very identity God has already given us.

So today, hear the invitation: step into community, or step deeper into it. Let yourself be known. Let yourself be encouraged. Let yourself be part of the great, ongoing story of people who run the race together, fixing their eyes on Jesus.

Gracious God, thank you for the cloud of witnesses who surround us and the communities that strengthen us. Help us lay aside what weighs us down and run with perseverance the race you set before us. Draw us into deeper connection with one another and with Christ, who leads us in love. Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim