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Sept/Oct
2011
Don't
Give Up!
When
I see the excitement of someone winning a race, I am
reminded of how God has put within each of us a desire to
win! A drive to succeed.
I find it interesting in our modern day in the institutions
for children that they often do away with having winners and
losers so no one will go away sad or mad. So everyone is
happy.
Be
that what it may, life does not always let you win, and a
big part of the adventure is the competition and striving to
win. You don't get ahead doing nothing and having no
purpose.
Take
away incentive and reward for effort, and purpose to
improve, and you have very little left. Political socialism
at best. (Which is far short of what God has for His
people.)
One
of the concerns I have for the church and God's people today
is that there is almost a sense of giving up on trying. Like
we have already been defeated and there is no reason to
compete for the prize.
No
matter what our age, No matter what our past failures or
hurts, no matter the disappointments, there is a spiritual
race to be ran and won! As followers of Jesus Christ we are
on the winning team. Maybe we need to spend more time in
God's Word reminding ourselves who won on the cross. Who won
over the tomb. And who wins in the end!
Hebrews
10:23-25 (NIV)
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we
profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, 25 not giving up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
encouraging one another -- and all the more as you see the
Day approaching.
Today
I want to spur us on and encourage each of us to run this
race well, and to finish well. It is never too late to get
into your spiritual running shoes and join the team called
the Body of Christ.
Let's
be encouraged by the words of Hebrews 12:1-3 and take the
challenge.
1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our
eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy
set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart.
"Therefore"
refers to Hebrews chapter 11.
Please stop and read it before you go on.
After recounting the great men and women who were faithful to
run this race before us, and who kept their faith in God in
the worst of circumstances, the writer of Hebrews then turns
to the challenge of those who will follow, and say;
"Therefore then..."
These
accounts in Hebrews 11 are evidence that this race can be won!
It
can be done by God's help. We cannot blame our circumstances.
We need to grasp the reality of Who God is and that God IS on
our side.
2
Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for
a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his
own glory and goodness.
There
are things we need to do to run this race.
1)
Strip down of the things that hinder us in knowing God.
(Hebrews 12:1a)
2) Be rid of sin that entangle us. (1b)
3) Stay focused on Christ. (verse 2)
4) Consider Jesus to be encouraged. (verse 3)
Pastor
Rick Messer / Pastor of a church
without walls.
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