Ordinary Time 
Pause
Our lives are filled with images. They’re everywhere — on our phones, on television, on the side of the road. Pictures of celebrities. Pictures of athletes. Pictures of just about everything.
But what about faith? Where do we find pictures of faith?
Finding faith is no easy task. Neither is becoming a person of faith. But with God’s help it’s possible. With this in mind, we look to Scripture, and we commit ourselves to gathering with other Christ followers. Even now we wait expectantly for a word from God, with the hope that we might become a picture of faith for others to see.
Listen
So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Think
When you’re running a race, there’s only one direction that matters — forward — towards the finish line. This sounds easy enough, but as most of us know, running takes a lot of endurance and strength.
It’s easy to give up.
It’s hard to keep going.
Faith is also this way, which is why the author of Hebrews offers us a few words of encouragement.
First, we have to let go of anything and everything that is weighing us down. Things like guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, and anger can sap us of strength and keep us from moving forward. Secondly, we have to get rid of sin, which is to say we have to quit engaging in behaviors that are harmful and damaging, or we may trip and fall. Lastly, we have to focus all of our attention on Jesus. He is the perfect example of a life well lived, and it is in and through him that we discover eternal life.
Knowing that Jesus has gone before us and goes with us gives us the strength and endurance we need to keep running.
Chris Robertson
Pray
God, I often lose my way and run out of energy, so I come to you in need. Where I am weak, make me strong. Amen.
Go
In Scripture we meet hundreds of faithful people whose stories continue to inspire, enliven, and challenge us today. Each of their stories is a unique picture of faith, as well as a constant reminder that faith is always a call to action.
“Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than as a possession. It is an on-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all. Faith is not being sure where you’re going but going anyway. A journey without maps.”
Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking
