Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
— Hebrews 12:1–2
When people say they enjoy running, it makes no sense to me. I don't enjoy any kind of exercise, but I do it—reluctantly and under protest. My favorite part of a workout is when it is done. I have met people who talk about a runner's high, which, I am told, happens when endorphins are released. I have never experienced a runner's high, but one little secret I have discovered is that I always seem to do better when there is someone watching, when there is someone cheering me on.
In the race of life, you are being watched by others who have gone before you, by those who have already run this race. We read in Hebrews 11 about the great men and women of God who served Him faithfully, and they are referred to as "so great a cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1. Another version puts it this way: "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins" (MSG).
The idea is that you keep running. When I look at the lives of some believers I knew when I first came to Christ, it is sad to see the mess they have made of their lives through wrong choices and by getting sidetracked. Then I can think of others who started their race without much promise, but they are doing very well today. So it is not enough to start well. We need to finish well too.
Keep running. Look to Jesus as the one you are running for. He is watching you. He is urging you on. Are you running to win?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A Good Push
"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again." – Psalm 71:20
Once there was a company that required 100 percent cooperation and agreement by all of the employees before they could sign up for a new pension-insurance plan. Everyone in the company was anxious to enter into the new plan, except for one stubborn, selfish, ego-involved man who refused to see the benefits of the new plan. He found all kinds of reasons for not joining with the others and refused to sign the consent form. His fellow-employees tried everything they could to induce him to sign, but he stubbornly refused.
Finally, his boss called him into his office, handed the man a pen, and said, "Look. Here's the paper. Here's the pen. Sign it or you're fired." Smiling cheerfully, the man picked up the pen and signed his name to the consent form. In exasperation, the man's boss demanded, "Why haven't you signed it before?"
"Well," the man replied, "no one ever explained it to me so clearly before."
Often, troubled times are God's way of giving us the shove we need. Sometimes we postpone a decision until he really presses us.
* * *
Can you think of any "shoves" God HAS given you in the past or IS giving you now to motivate you toward something better (yet unknown) in your life?
Once there was a company that required 100 percent cooperation and agreement by all of the employees before they could sign up for a new pension-insurance plan. Everyone in the company was anxious to enter into the new plan, except for one stubborn, selfish, ego-involved man who refused to see the benefits of the new plan. He found all kinds of reasons for not joining with the others and refused to sign the consent form. His fellow-employees tried everything they could to induce him to sign, but he stubbornly refused.
Finally, his boss called him into his office, handed the man a pen, and said, "Look. Here's the paper. Here's the pen. Sign it or you're fired." Smiling cheerfully, the man picked up the pen and signed his name to the consent form. In exasperation, the man's boss demanded, "Why haven't you signed it before?"
"Well," the man replied, "no one ever explained it to me so clearly before."
Often, troubled times are God's way of giving us the shove we need. Sometimes we postpone a decision until he really presses us.
* * *
Can you think of any "shoves" God HAS given you in the past or IS giving you now to motivate you toward something better (yet unknown) in your life?
Monday, November 16, 2009
Leaves
I have been wondering something....What is it about this time of year that makes me so sad? I don't get it. When fall leaves begin to loose their grip on the branches that held them through storms, wind, heat, and worm-eating, I get an internal feeling of helplessness. I guess, as the leaves fall to the ground in the cooling air, so my soul senses somewhat of a fall into the place of resting for the winter months. And I just don't get it.
As crazy as it sounds, my life is like the fall leaves. There is something in the human heart that holds out hope, yet releases it when...well, its just time to do so. An overwhelming amount of emails have come into the ministry lately from precious ones sensing a "fallen" state. Not a fall into deep sin, but rather the gentle floating and twisting of a downward spiral like a leaf that has been loosed from it's life-source. The human spirit longs for life-giving days. Thank God we are not trees, as the naturalists say, because I would be one droopy, sick, and I guess by now, naked branch.
It is in these days that, when a tree looks the most unproductive and dead, it is actually growing and strengthening as never before. The life within the tree will give birth again soon, you just watch.
Even though a fallen leaf cannot reconnect to it's source, you and I can. It is times of depression, pain, and the blahs that Jesus longs for us to not linger on the ground. We must and have the privilege of connecting to Him, even though it may seem like He is not giving out any "fresh" life. He is there. I have to remember that. Spring will come again.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Backwards Don't Count
"I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." – Philippians 3:12
A friend of mine had his break down before leaving on a trip recently. A good friend of mine who happened to be a Cadillac dealer insisted that he drive one of his brand new Cadillac Seville demonstrator cars. My friend had a ball in that car! He said that he started the engine, put the car in reverse, and couldn't believe what he saw. As he backed out of the driveway, suddenly the digital speedometer started flashing, registering the miles per hour he was going in reverse. For the first time in the history of the car industry in the United States there was a speedometer that registered backward speed.
In times of defeat, it's easy to think we're going backwards. Let's not count it! The secret of success is to look ahead. We must lay aside the negative weights and run with patience the race that's in front of us.
* * *
Is there anything in your life that is weighing you down? Identify it. Let go of it. And, press on!
A friend of mine had his break down before leaving on a trip recently. A good friend of mine who happened to be a Cadillac dealer insisted that he drive one of his brand new Cadillac Seville demonstrator cars. My friend had a ball in that car! He said that he started the engine, put the car in reverse, and couldn't believe what he saw. As he backed out of the driveway, suddenly the digital speedometer started flashing, registering the miles per hour he was going in reverse. For the first time in the history of the car industry in the United States there was a speedometer that registered backward speed.
In times of defeat, it's easy to think we're going backwards. Let's not count it! The secret of success is to look ahead. We must lay aside the negative weights and run with patience the race that's in front of us.
* * *
Is there anything in your life that is weighing you down? Identify it. Let go of it. And, press on!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Look For The Good
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." – Genesis 50:20
A young man named Woolworth decided he was going to open a new store—a brand-new business of his own. When he was ready for the grand opening, a merchant down the street got a little nervous about this young man taking some of his business away, so he ran an ad in the local paper. It read: DO YOUR LOCAL SHOPPING HERE. WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS! Young Woolworth couldn't believe it! How could he handle this competition? What should he do? The next week he countered with an ad of his own, which read: WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS ONLY ONE WEEK—ALL OF OUR MERCHANDISE IS BRAND-NEW! And he was off to a great start!
Take all the good news you can. But even if you're faced with bad news, remember—often there is good news hidden in bad-news situations. But you have to be positively oriented before you see it.
* * *
Make a habit of looking for the good in any bad situation that comes your way.
A young man named Woolworth decided he was going to open a new store—a brand-new business of his own. When he was ready for the grand opening, a merchant down the street got a little nervous about this young man taking some of his business away, so he ran an ad in the local paper. It read: DO YOUR LOCAL SHOPPING HERE. WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS! Young Woolworth couldn't believe it! How could he handle this competition? What should he do? The next week he countered with an ad of his own, which read: WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS ONLY ONE WEEK—ALL OF OUR MERCHANDISE IS BRAND-NEW! And he was off to a great start!
Take all the good news you can. But even if you're faced with bad news, remember—often there is good news hidden in bad-news situations. But you have to be positively oriented before you see it.
* * *
Make a habit of looking for the good in any bad situation that comes your way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
