Endurance Through Faith's Pioneer and Perfecter
Daily Scripture
Hebrews 11:39-12:3
39 All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. 40 God provided something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us.
12:1 So then, with endurance, 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, 2 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.
3 Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Sir Alex Ferguson: “Hard work will always overcome natural talent when natural talent does not work hard enough.”
As Hebrews listed many examples of faith, it pictured an athletic stadium with the faithful of every age as spectators cheering us on. Like soccer players in a packed World Cup stadium, we run knowing we are not alone. There was no whitewashing of the world’s brokenness. God was with all of them, but while some faithful lives had superb outcomes, others met terribly tragic earthly fates. Sir Alex Ferguson’s insight about ”hard work” captures the essence of what Hebrews said about the life of faith. Endurance, not talent, wins the race. The ultimate “win” was not now, but in “a better country… a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). Endurance forms you to be the type of person God calls you to be. Scholar Kenneth Schenck noted that Hebrews 12:1’s “So then” draws the conclusion: “The audience needs to persist in faith and continue on their journey, just like the examples of faith in Hebrews 11. Like an athlete, they need to get rid of all their extra weight, especially sin.” *
- Hebrews 11:39-40 said we don’t always see God’s promises come true in this life—at least not fully. We wait for eternity. Some give up on faith because they aren’t willing to wait. Paul wrote to Christians in Rome (living under hostile emperors) about hope’s importance in forming faithful lives (Romans 8:18-25). When have you had to wait longer than you hoped for a divine promise? What promises are you still waiting for? What gives you faith as you wait?
- Hebrews called us, as we live our lives, to “fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter,” who “endured the cross.” Hebrews showed how remembering forms us. We remember those who ran before us. We remember Jesus, faith’s pioneer. Remembering gives us strength to keep running. What helps you ‘fix your eyes on Jesus’ during the errands and duties of regular life? What is one formative practice you could adopt to keep your gaze on him every day?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when life goes well, I forget I need you. When things go badly, I think you’ve abandoned me. Help me run the race with eyes fixed on you—through both the light and dark days of my life. Amen.
GPS Insights
Bill Gepford
Bill Gepford, who serves as the location pastor for Resurrection West, wrote today's Insights. He has served churches in three states, and in roles as a youth pastor, associate pastor, solo pastor, lead pastor and location pastor. Bill loves to create spaces where emerging generations can experience joy. He is the husband to Melissa, the daddy to Finn and a huge fan of the K-State Wildcats and the Kansas City Chiefs. Some of his favorite hobbies are powerlifting, hiking, and camping with his family.
This past Tuesday I walked the halls of a 139-year-old church building.
Like many of our congregation, I was there for our Summer Makeover serve project at The Hub Argentine. It was a joy (and a reminder that I’m bad at painting). We performed minor repairs, landscaping, and painting to bless the facilities.
The Hub is a coalition of community organizations, housed in the former Metropolitan Avenue United Methodist Church. It’s beautiful. It’s historic. It’s a place where generations of saints prayed for their neighbors and their communities and their world.
There were great times. And hard times. Several years ago, the economy of the neighborhood changed, and the church had to debate closing or becoming something new. I wonder if the congregation ever began to feel a bit like our scripture today–praying with endurance, even when things seemed discouraging.
But discouragement wasn’t the end of the story.
Today the Hub hosts two congregations, ministers to people in five languages, has 8 incredible ministries and programs. The halls are vibrant and full of people–and making a difference in their community.
I wonder if those bygone saints would resonate with the passage from Hebrews 11:40-“God provided something better for us.”
It’s easy to get discouraged in life. If you do, I hope you know that you are normal. But I also hope that you are willing to endure, with your eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of your faith.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Kenneth Schenck, study note on Hebrews 12:1 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 450 NT.
