Nowhere in the Bible are we promised that the Christian life is going to be easy. In fact, the opposite is often true -- John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Difficulties and trials will come our way, and we may be tempted to quit on God. That is what was happening in the book of Hebrews. Believers were enduring a time of terrible persecution, and in light of that, the writer of the book is encouraging them to continue to be faithful to God. This race is not to the swift, but to those who endure to the end. Here the Christian life is compared to a race. And the writer isn’t talking about a 100 yard dash, but a marathon. A marathon requires endurance, training, and plenty of preparation. You may not be in the physical shape to run a marathon, but you can be (or get) in the spiritual shape to run this Christian race. We live in a time when runners seem to be dropping out of the race on every hand. These are days when it is easy to get discouraged. Trials and difficulties may tempt us to drop out and let others do the running. But this morning I want to share some steps with you that will help us run this race. I do not know what you may be facing as you run, but I do know doing the things revealed in these verses will help us be runners who are pleasing to God.

I. CONSIDER THE SAINTS -- VS. 1a.

II. CONSIDER SELF -- VV. 1b.

III. CONSIDER THE SAVIOR -- VV. 2-3.