READ: JOHN 21:21-22; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11; HEBREWS 12:1-3

Picture this: you’re getting ready to run a race. You stand at the starting line, stretching and nervously shifting your weight from one foot to the other. You get into position, adrenaline coursing through your veins, and wait until you hear the BANG! of the starter pistol. You burst forward as fast as you can, your feet pounding the ground, your arms pumping back and forth, your head…turned to the side as you stare intently at the other runners.

How do you think this race would end? With you triumphantly crossing the finish line—or tripping over your own feet, crashing to the ground, and probably taking a few other runners down with you? I would guess the second option is more likely.

I wonder if that’s why Hebrews 12:2 instructs us to keep “our eyes on Jesus” as we run the race of faith. When this letter was written, runners would often look down the track at someone seated in the place of honor. By using this metaphor, the author shows us that Jesus is the one sitting at the end of the track. So, to run the race well, we need to fix our eyes on Him.

Sadly, we often get distracted. Instead of looking straight ahead at Jesus, we crane our necks to get a peek at our “competition.” Who’s doing more service projects? Who has better grades? Who has more social media followers? Who missed church last week? Who cracked the best joke? Who got in trouble? Who’s wearing the right clothes? Who’s wearing the wrong clothes? And on and on. Instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus, we size each other up, jockeying for position. Ultimately, we end up in a heap of sprained ankles and bloody knees—or worse.

But Jesus offers another way. He ran the race perfectly on our behalf, and He died and rose again to save us from all our sin, including envy and judgement. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, trusting Him to guide our steps in His timing, He helps us see our fellow runners not as our competition, but as our companions and co-workers in the gospel. And when we get distracted and glance to the side, we can point each other back toward our shared goal— following our loving Savior. • Taylor Eising

• When are you tempted to compare yourself to the people around you? Why do you think that is? Consider spending some time in prayer, confessing any envy or judgement that comes to mind and asking God to remind you how much He loves you and the people you compare yourself to.

So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:19 (NLT)