I don’t like crosses. They are painful. Jesus also “endured the cross, despising the shame.” He not only endured it, He embraced it. It was necessary to complete His race, so He kept on running. That’s your example. That’s my example. He will be there to help us; we will not have to do it alone. The cross is necessary for us to complete our race also.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB)
