Run!

Run!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT

The lives of all the people who have gone before us are examples and lessons for us. Their actions, right or wrong, hold eternal lessons for us and teach us what the right way is. Their acts of faith are both lessons and warnings to all of us today. Think about this: if this was the standard in their own days, when God did not let sin go unpunished, even when He showed mercy, why would we think that God will lower the standard for us living in this generation? Has God's grace now become a license for loose living?

As someone who has come to know who God is and what His standard for my life, It is my responsibility to strip off the weight and the sin. It is the season of grace so I do not have an excuse. I must be careful not to get careless and take God for granted; I must be careful about other people's opinions about me or how I react to people's opinions about me. I must be careful not to live for the praise of men but to seek the applause of heaven.

And then I must run. I believe God used the word run for a reason: it will take effort, it will take time and it has a destination and purpose to the effort. God is the One who sets the race, and all of us are called to run, whether you know it or not. There is a goal and purpose to the race, and there is a judge at the end of the line, and a prize to be won. It is not about who comes first, but about finishing my race. I am not in competition with anyone; I am only focused on getting into the rest God has promised all who hold on to the end. There is one right way to run, and it is as God commands. No other way will cut it. How are you running? His time of favour is here.