There is a part of all our lives that is public; it is visible to anyone who chooses to pay attention. There are also those things about you that are private. They really aren’t anyone else’s business other than your own. You may choose to make those things public, but it is really your choice.

Do you consider your faith to be in the public arena of your life or to be a private thing? Most Americans probably think faith is a private matter. It is really no one else’s business. Christians know that our faith is a very public matter. We are called to be Christ’s witnesses to the entire world (Matthew 28:19-20). How you live out your faith is a large part of how people around you see Jesus

But there is another sense in which you faith is a public matter. Hebrews 12 begins “Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith…” We are witnesses, but our faith is also witnessed. The whole Communion of Saints surrounds us in our faith. Hebrews 12 goes on to use the metaphor of running a race to describe how we live out our faith.

The good news is that you have a cheering section. Those who have gone before you and those who stand beside you in the faith are cheering for you. But the best news of all is that Jesus, Himself, is cheering for you.

“We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.” (Hebrews 12:1b) The race of faith is a marathon, not a sprint. It is not easy and the “race” would be far too difficult for us if we tried to rely on ourselves alone. But, God has promised to sustain you in the “race” you run. The writer to the Hebrews goes on: “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Focus on Jesus today. He’s cheering for you!