Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

The person who is to determined to endure, to persevere is the kind of person addressed in Hebrews 12:1. Encouragement is found in the company of others. The writer includes himself when he says “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” We might think of the quote below or at least the paraphrase – “Never give up.”

“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Winston Churchill

How do we endure? It may be surprising, but I think the key to endurance is found in abiding. My dictionary tells me that abiding means to “conform to, adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with” and so when we endure by conforming to Christ and acting in accordance to His word.

So, let us remember Paul’s words to the Galatians in our own lives today. –

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9