Tag: race of faith
Running with Patience!
Scripture reading for November 14th: Hebrews 11:32-12:13
The race of faith takes patience. The main reason for this is that no one knows when the promise of Jesus Christ’s return will take place. We must live in anticipation daily and constantly live a holy life. We might even leave this life through death before the promise of His coming is fulfilled. In fact, all the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 died without receiving what was promised them! (Hebrews 11:39-40) Only together with us will they be made perfect!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
The race of faith requires our total concentration. Jesus Christ is the author of all faith in that He is the living word of God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Jesus also perfects our faith through his prayers of intercession as we work our way through the trials of this life on earth. He set the perfect example of faith in enduring the cross and finishing the work God had for Him to do here on earth. He encourages us to endure opposition and never give up.
The writer of Hebrews encouraged the Hebrew believers to endure hardship as if it were the discipline of the Lord. The Lord always disciplines those He loves for their good and profit. True sons are loved by God and disciplined in order to share in His holiness. (Hebrews 12:10) Discipline is never easy or without some pain. Discipline produces righteousness for those trained by it.
The race of faith is an endurance race run by those pleasing God. God wants all in that race to win the crown of life. Today is a good day to refocus your life and thoughts on Jesus Christ. His greatest joy will be you and I in His presence for eternity. Are you running in this great race? The winner gets the crown!
Laying hold of the prize!
Scripture reading for October 2nd: Philippians 3:4-21
Paul liked to use the analogy of a runner in a race. Runners had to keep focused on the finish line. They couldn’t be looking back but needed to be moving forward, even straining to win the prize. Good runners run to win! The Christian race is similar to a race and the prize is eternal life in Christ Jesus!
Paul used to boast about all of his credentials and accomplishments in an effort to become a good Jew. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin. He was taught in the law and was so zealous for his religion that he persecuted the church of Jesus Christ. But Paul considered all his accomplishments as rubbish for the wonderful privilege of knowing Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8) He entered the race to know Christ on the Damascus Road and once his eyes were opened, he never looked back!
“That I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering, becoming like Him in His death, and, so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8b-11) Paul learned that all his works could not earn righteousness. It was a gift of God’s grace that came by faith in Christ. Paul got to see Christ, but he wanted to know Him in a more intimate way. He knew that the message of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection had the power to reveal Christ in him and others.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . . .But this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14) Paul is near the end of his life and his attitude is one of focused faith on receiving the prize of eternal life with Christ. He is not looking back, but straining forward! May we be so focused!