-4, 1 Corinthians:24-27. Paul and the author of Hebrews both use the metaphor of running a race for following Jesus. Rufus reminds us that we are not competing against one another, but against our true adversary: Satan. We prepare ourselves for the race by exercising our faith and feeding ourselves with the Word of God. We run with endurance by keeping Jesus and the cross at the forefront of our minds.