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Witnesses on the journey

Lynne Baab • Tuesday December 30 2025

Witnesses on the journey

When you think of a witness, do you think of someone who is watching you? Or do you think of someone who witnessed something and is describing it to you, like a witness in court?

As a new year begins, I want to suggest Hebrews 12:1-2 as a way to think back on this past year.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Witnesses

When I first learned of these verses, shortly after becoming a committed Christian at 19, I thought “witnesses” referred to people who are watching us. The thrust of the verses, then, would be that we’d better do our best to follow Jesus because we are being watched by “a cloud of witnesses.” We don’t want to let them down or look bad to them. I liked the idea of running a face with our eyes fixed on Jesus, but the idea of being watched by a crowd of people felt creepy.

Later, I learned that the witnesses here refer to people who are testifying to us about what they have seen. In this post, I want to give you an opportunity to think back on the past year, using the ideas in Hebrews 12:1-2.

  • This past year, who functioned as a witness to you, telling you about what God has done in their life?
  • Who encouraged you in your faith?
  • Who modeled faithfulness to you?

Lay aside encumbrances

I am very fond of the spiritual practice of simplicity. “Let us lay aside every weight” in verse 1 speaks to me about letting go of unnecessary baggage. Simplifying. This might be physical possessions that take too much energy to maintain. This might refer to thoughts and attitudes that hold me back from running the race with enthusiasm and joy.

  • This past year, in any area of your life, what did you let go of?
  • In what ways did letting go enable you to run with your eyes fixed more closely on Jesus?

Receive forgiveness

“Let us also lay aside the sin that clings so closely” (verse 1) speaks of an ongoing practice of confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness. I certainly don’t know any other way of laying sin aside.

  • In this past year, what settings, scriptures, or conversations helped you confess your sins?
  • What helps you receive forgiveness, letting it go deep inside you?

Run with perseverance

“Perseverance” is not a favorite word of mine. I can see that in some settings, I do persevere, but I don’t like doing it. I always feel that something is wrong with me, that some things are hard. “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (verse 1). In this journey in our broken world, we cannot move forward without perseverance. I hear God speaking to me these days that when I find perseverance difficult, that’s not my fault.

  • Think of one or two situations in this past year when you persevered. Thank God for strengthening you.
  • When perseverance is necessary and hard, can you believe it’s not your fault? If you want to grow in this area, ask God for grace and a sense of being beloved.

Keep our eyes on Jesus

“Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (verse 2). These are my favorite words in the verse. I love to look at Jesus. Yes, he challenges me to grow because he longs to make my faith perfect. Yes, he pushes me to think deeply and care for people I find challenging. But, oh, most of all, Jesus models a life of love, compassion, and tenderness. And I know his compassion and tenderness are directed toward me and everyone I love. Jesus is our pioneer, charting the path forward for us.

  • In the past year, when and where did you experience God’s compassion and tenderness?
  • In what ways has Jesus led you in the past year?
  • Do you see any ways your faith is more perfect these days than it used to be?

The cloud of witnesses, all those people who tell us about God’s goodness, are speaking to us about the significance of laying aside encumbrances, receiving forgiveness, running with perseverance, and staying focused on Jesus. Let’s listen to them.

Jesus, companion on our journey through the past year, thank you for every person who told us what they experienced with you so that we could be encouraged. Thank you for helping us relinquish things that were impeding our faith journey. Thank you for every time you helped us persevere. We praise you for your compassion and tenderness that draw our eyes to you. For this coming year, guide our eyes toward you. Be the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

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Next week: Praying with colors on the journey. Illustration by Dave Baab: Aramoana Beach near Dunedin, New Zealand.

Previous posts about the New Year

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