Bible Ballistics: BBs #348           Steadfast In The Race???

 

Talking about racing isn’t something that I’m very familiar with, since I don’t run—in fact I’ve always done well to be able to walk without stumbling. I’m a bit clumsy at times so racing was never something that I pursued or excelled at in the physical realm, but we are called to “run with patience the race that is set before us”. (See Hebrews 12:1-2)

The thing that I have observed about racing is that the runner must be focused on “his own race/lane” and not what is going on around him. If he tries to glance behind him, he will loose his own focus and perhaps slow down, stumble or even fall behind. It is the same in the spiritual realm! We must keep our eyes focused on the prize—Jesus; we must run “our own race” in obedience to what our LORD is leading us to do; we must persevere in practice, training and purpose to run successfully. And God calls us to run this race before us with patience, in His strength and power.

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” Colossians 1:10-11

Did you get that? We are called to work, run, serve and minister in HIS strength and might; to be empowered by HIS “glorious power”; and, oh my, not the “P” word, with “all patience and longsuffering”! We are to exercise patience and longsuffering—the two biblical words that encompass all “patience”, one regarding circumstances (abiding under the load), and the other regarding people (putting up with)! But there’s even more—we are not only called to run with patience and longsuffering/endurance, but to exercise these “with joyfulness”!

Now I have to tell you that is a big one for me—I struggle to always and immediately rejoice when I encounter things that require patience and/or longsuffering on my part. But it’s what we are called to do. But how? Well my friends, there is only one way, and that is to always be walking “in the Spirit” of our Lord (See Galatians 5:16 & 25). To be “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power”! We must avail ourselves of all the spiritual resources that are found only in Jesus! It is by His power that we can run successfully, and consistently. And we must run—other people’s eternity may depend upon it!

So take heart friends, Jesus has bought the victory for us, and we must simply follow Him, for it is by His power, strength, grace and mercy that we will find the hope and strength to patiently run—even those of us who aren’t necessarily ‘runners’ by nature. We are equipped and empowered by our Lord to “run to win”!

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

 Thank you Paul for reminding us that the victory belongs to the One who bought us with His precious blood. So take heart friend, we may get tired—but IN JESUS, we win!