GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY JUNE 30, 2012.
PROVERB:
All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Proverbs 16:2.
PROMISE:
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. I Corinthians 4:5.
PRAISE:
O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are Your purposes and mighty are Your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; You reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. Jeremiah 32: 18-19.
July 1, 2012
Murmur: June 29, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2012.
MURMUR
DEFINITION:
A low indistinct sound; a mumbled expression of discontent; a muttered complaint.
SCRIPTURE:
And all of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God if we die in this wilderness.” Numbers 14:2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Murmuring or muttering complaints is the outward expression of inner obstinacy and rebellion. It most likely is something every one of us has been guilty of some time in our life.
In the verse above we read about the Children of Israel murmuring against their leaders. They had become fearful of going into the Promised Land to conquer it as the Lord wanted them to do.
Twelve spies had been sent to spy out the land. Ten of the spies had aroused fear in the people by reporting that the Canaanites were too powerful to be conquered. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve spies who remained strong in their faith and took a stand against the other spies.
After all the years of hardships wandering through the wilderness, the Children of Israel were tired of waiting so they began to not only murmur but to loudly complain. It was Joshua that God used to speak out against the murmuring. He told the congregation of Israelites that the land was good and “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.”
Joshua begged them to trust the Lord, but the congregation continued to murmur and complain and even threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb. Moses cried out to God for deliverance for his people. God was ready to wipe them out but because of Moses’ prayer of intercession for them, God forgave the Children of Israel for their murmuring and complaining.
Nevertheless, they still paid a price for their sinful complaining and rebellion against God. God told them that they would wander in the desert for 40 years and no one but Joshua and Caleb and those under 20 years old would enter the Promised Land.
We can remember as children when our parents gave us something to do and we really did not want to do it that as we walked away we would murmur under our breath. This did not go over with our parents and usually got us into deep trouble. Years later the roles were reversed. We were the parents and our children would walk away from us after we gave them a responsibility to do murmuring under their breath. They soon learned, as we did, that murmuring and complaining got them nowhere, in fact, it brought consequences that just made them unhappy.
There are murmurers and complainers among Christians today just like as there were among the Children of Israel. They complain about everything and then always blame God for what went wrong. God is not the problem. We who complain are the problem. We only want to do what we want to do and do it in our own way. We disobey God, just like the Children of Israel did, and then when we fail or get ourselves in trouble we ask God -- WHY?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Enable me to be obedient to You and do what You want me to do without murmuring and complaining. Forgive me for the times that I have been obstinate and rebellious against You. Give me a right attitude and keep me cheerful in all that I do.
MURMUR
DEFINITION:
A low indistinct sound; a mumbled expression of discontent; a muttered complaint.
SCRIPTURE:
And all of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God if we die in this wilderness.” Numbers 14:2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Murmuring or muttering complaints is the outward expression of inner obstinacy and rebellion. It most likely is something every one of us has been guilty of some time in our life.
In the verse above we read about the Children of Israel murmuring against their leaders. They had become fearful of going into the Promised Land to conquer it as the Lord wanted them to do.
Twelve spies had been sent to spy out the land. Ten of the spies had aroused fear in the people by reporting that the Canaanites were too powerful to be conquered. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve spies who remained strong in their faith and took a stand against the other spies.
After all the years of hardships wandering through the wilderness, the Children of Israel were tired of waiting so they began to not only murmur but to loudly complain. It was Joshua that God used to speak out against the murmuring. He told the congregation of Israelites that the land was good and “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.”
Joshua begged them to trust the Lord, but the congregation continued to murmur and complain and even threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb. Moses cried out to God for deliverance for his people. God was ready to wipe them out but because of Moses’ prayer of intercession for them, God forgave the Children of Israel for their murmuring and complaining.
Nevertheless, they still paid a price for their sinful complaining and rebellion against God. God told them that they would wander in the desert for 40 years and no one but Joshua and Caleb and those under 20 years old would enter the Promised Land.
We can remember as children when our parents gave us something to do and we really did not want to do it that as we walked away we would murmur under our breath. This did not go over with our parents and usually got us into deep trouble. Years later the roles were reversed. We were the parents and our children would walk away from us after we gave them a responsibility to do murmuring under their breath. They soon learned, as we did, that murmuring and complaining got them nowhere, in fact, it brought consequences that just made them unhappy.
There are murmurers and complainers among Christians today just like as there were among the Children of Israel. They complain about everything and then always blame God for what went wrong. God is not the problem. We who complain are the problem. We only want to do what we want to do and do it in our own way. We disobey God, just like the Children of Israel did, and then when we fail or get ourselves in trouble we ask God -- WHY?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Enable me to be obedient to You and do what You want me to do without murmuring and complaining. Forgive me for the times that I have been obstinate and rebellious against You. Give me a right attitude and keep me cheerful in all that I do.
Neutral: June 28, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2012.
NEUTRAL
DEFINITION:
Not aligned with or supporting any side or position in a controversy.
SCRIPTURE:
He who is not with Me is against Me. Matthew 12:30.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
A group of people were discussing religion, some were believers and some were not. One of them said that there was good in all religions so I believe in them all and therefore I have all my bases covered.
Anyone that believes that there is some good in all religions may be sincere but they are sincerely wrong. It isn’t a matter of what we want to think is true. It is a matter of what is true.
The God of the Bible is the only true and living God. He is the only God who has provided a way to have eternal life. Jesus, God’s Son, is the only one who has overcome death and come back to life. All other gods are still in their graves. The God of the Bible is the only God who has made it possible to have a relationship with Him. God made that possible to all who accept Jesus as their Savior.
Other religions do not make this option possible so those that say they have all their bases covered have missed the most important base for this life and for eternity.
By accepting all religions as having some merit many feel they are remaining neutral. They feel by doing this they are open-minded. God has not given us the option of being neutral. No matter how much good one might see in any one religion, Jesus said that there is only one way to heaven.
In John 14 we read about Jesus preparing His disciples for His death. He tried to comfort them by telling them that He was going to His Father’s house and that He would be preparing a place for them there. Then Thomas spoke up and said to Jesus that they did not know where He was going so how could they know the way. Jesus answer is what all the world needs to hear today. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” There is no neutrality in this statement.
Jesus said there is just “one way” to God. He did not say there are many ways through many other religions. There is no neutral ground. Those who think that they can opt not to make a decision and just remain neutral need to realize that by remaining neutral and choosing not to accept Jesus they have chosen to reject Him. There is no middle ground with God. Not to act is to act. A choice has been made. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me.”
Consider where you stand. Remember there is no neutral ground Are you standing on God’s side or on Satan’s side?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
May my life be a testimony to others that I am standing on the Lord’s side. Help me to be firm with those that I meet and talk to by letting them know there is no neutral ground concerning where they will spend eternity.
NEUTRAL
DEFINITION:
Not aligned with or supporting any side or position in a controversy.
SCRIPTURE:
He who is not with Me is against Me. Matthew 12:30.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
A group of people were discussing religion, some were believers and some were not. One of them said that there was good in all religions so I believe in them all and therefore I have all my bases covered.
Anyone that believes that there is some good in all religions may be sincere but they are sincerely wrong. It isn’t a matter of what we want to think is true. It is a matter of what is true.
The God of the Bible is the only true and living God. He is the only God who has provided a way to have eternal life. Jesus, God’s Son, is the only one who has overcome death and come back to life. All other gods are still in their graves. The God of the Bible is the only God who has made it possible to have a relationship with Him. God made that possible to all who accept Jesus as their Savior.
Other religions do not make this option possible so those that say they have all their bases covered have missed the most important base for this life and for eternity.
By accepting all religions as having some merit many feel they are remaining neutral. They feel by doing this they are open-minded. God has not given us the option of being neutral. No matter how much good one might see in any one religion, Jesus said that there is only one way to heaven.
In John 14 we read about Jesus preparing His disciples for His death. He tried to comfort them by telling them that He was going to His Father’s house and that He would be preparing a place for them there. Then Thomas spoke up and said to Jesus that they did not know where He was going so how could they know the way. Jesus answer is what all the world needs to hear today. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” There is no neutrality in this statement.
Jesus said there is just “one way” to God. He did not say there are many ways through many other religions. There is no neutral ground. Those who think that they can opt not to make a decision and just remain neutral need to realize that by remaining neutral and choosing not to accept Jesus they have chosen to reject Him. There is no middle ground with God. Not to act is to act. A choice has been made. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me.”
Consider where you stand. Remember there is no neutral ground Are you standing on God’s side or on Satan’s side?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
May my life be a testimony to others that I am standing on the Lord’s side. Help me to be firm with those that I meet and talk to by letting them know there is no neutral ground concerning where they will spend eternity.
Opportunity: June 27, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2012.
OPPORTUNITY
DEFINITION:
A favorable occasion or time; timely; a situation on condition favorable for attainment of a goal.
SCRIPTURE:
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are the household of faith. Galatians 6:10.
Be very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The Apostle Paul in his writings (above) to the churches at Galatia and Ephesus emphasizes how the believers need to take advantage of the opportunity of time given to them by God. Paul points out that the believer’s entire life provides the unique privilege by which he can serve others in Christ’s name.
In Ephesians 5:15-16 (above), Paul tells us that we are to make the most of our time in this evil world in fulfilling God’s purposes, seizing every opportunity to tell others about Christ.
In Galatians 6:10 (above), Paul instructs us to do good to all wherever we have the opportunity. He puts emphasis on doing good not just to the non-believers but also to our fellow believers. Members of the body of Christ must uphold one another. So often, believers are critical of other believers. Jesus taught us that we are to love one another.
By definition the word opportunity suggests that it comes with a time limit. The term “window of opportunity” is used to denote the period of time available or highly favorable to take action about something. Once the window is closed the opportunity is lost. It is then too late. In Isaiah 55:6-7 we read, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”
The Lord can return at any moment and we as believers must be ready. For the unbeliever the time of opportunity is in order critical to find Jesus. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. Luke 13:25-28 tells us that the day will come if we miss our opportunity to find Jesus as our Savior when He will say, “I tell you I do not know you or where you come from.” When you find yourself standing at the door of heaven, will Jesus know you?
God does give second chances to listen and accept Him. Jonah refused to do what God asked him to do. (Jonah 1:1-3) God used the big fish (whale) to give Jonah a wakeup call and Jonah responded by going and doing what God wanted him to do. If God gives you a second chance, your wakeup call may not be as big as the whale, but will you respond?
Paul tells us about the many times that God gave him opportunities to serve Him. Paul always took advantage of the opportunities that God gave him and God blessed him because of his faithfulness to God. Even in times when Paul should have been concerned for his own welfare, his desire was to make it an opportunity to witness. In Acts 21 we find Paul being arrested and Paul asking the guards to allow him to speak to the crowd to give his testimony of how he had come to his faith in the Lord.
Paul always wanted to make the most of every opportunity that God gave him. He was concerned about the shortness of time and wanted to tell everyone he could about the love of Jesus.
Every day we have opportunities but there are very few people that take advantage of the opportunities that God gives to tell someone about the love of God. We must not ignore the opportunities that God gives. There are opportunities all around us to help the hurting and hungry, opportunities to help build relationships, opportunities to help the sick or crippled. Are you making the most of your opportunities to do good to all?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Give me new opportunities today to share my love and the love of Jesus with people that need to know You. Help me to make the most of every opportunity to help those that are hurting, both physically and spiritually. Bless my family and help us to do good to all that we meet today.
OPPORTUNITY
DEFINITION:
A favorable occasion or time; timely; a situation on condition favorable for attainment of a goal.
SCRIPTURE:
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are the household of faith. Galatians 6:10.
Be very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The Apostle Paul in his writings (above) to the churches at Galatia and Ephesus emphasizes how the believers need to take advantage of the opportunity of time given to them by God. Paul points out that the believer’s entire life provides the unique privilege by which he can serve others in Christ’s name.
In Ephesians 5:15-16 (above), Paul tells us that we are to make the most of our time in this evil world in fulfilling God’s purposes, seizing every opportunity to tell others about Christ.
In Galatians 6:10 (above), Paul instructs us to do good to all wherever we have the opportunity. He puts emphasis on doing good not just to the non-believers but also to our fellow believers. Members of the body of Christ must uphold one another. So often, believers are critical of other believers. Jesus taught us that we are to love one another.
By definition the word opportunity suggests that it comes with a time limit. The term “window of opportunity” is used to denote the period of time available or highly favorable to take action about something. Once the window is closed the opportunity is lost. It is then too late. In Isaiah 55:6-7 we read, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”
The Lord can return at any moment and we as believers must be ready. For the unbeliever the time of opportunity is in order critical to find Jesus. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. Luke 13:25-28 tells us that the day will come if we miss our opportunity to find Jesus as our Savior when He will say, “I tell you I do not know you or where you come from.” When you find yourself standing at the door of heaven, will Jesus know you?
God does give second chances to listen and accept Him. Jonah refused to do what God asked him to do. (Jonah 1:1-3) God used the big fish (whale) to give Jonah a wakeup call and Jonah responded by going and doing what God wanted him to do. If God gives you a second chance, your wakeup call may not be as big as the whale, but will you respond?
Paul tells us about the many times that God gave him opportunities to serve Him. Paul always took advantage of the opportunities that God gave him and God blessed him because of his faithfulness to God. Even in times when Paul should have been concerned for his own welfare, his desire was to make it an opportunity to witness. In Acts 21 we find Paul being arrested and Paul asking the guards to allow him to speak to the crowd to give his testimony of how he had come to his faith in the Lord.
Paul always wanted to make the most of every opportunity that God gave him. He was concerned about the shortness of time and wanted to tell everyone he could about the love of Jesus.
Every day we have opportunities but there are very few people that take advantage of the opportunities that God gives to tell someone about the love of God. We must not ignore the opportunities that God gives. There are opportunities all around us to help the hurting and hungry, opportunities to help build relationships, opportunities to help the sick or crippled. Are you making the most of your opportunities to do good to all?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Give me new opportunities today to share my love and the love of Jesus with people that need to know You. Help me to make the most of every opportunity to help those that are hurting, both physically and spiritually. Bless my family and help us to do good to all that we meet today.
Prosperity: June 26, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY JUNE 26, 2012.
PROSPERITY
DEFINITION:
A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition.
SCRIPTURE:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. III John 2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
After Jesus ascended back to His Father in heaven, He left His disciples the task of tending His sheep (the followers of Jesus). The disciples were faithful to encourage the believers and to uphold them in prayer. John III is the apostle John’s personal letter of encouragement to Gaius, a fellow believer and faithful worker in the early church for the Lord. John wrote Gaius to commend him for his faithfulness and to let him know he was praying for him. John noted that Gaius spiritual state was so excellent that he was praying that his physical health would match his spiritual vigor.
It was a common practice for one to be asked when being met how his health was. Our physical condition is not something that is always apparent. Our spiritual condition, however, should be very apparent. Our Christian walk and the way we conduct ourselves should give evidence to our spiritual condition. John wrote Gaius that others had testified to him that Gaius was “walking in truth.” By the way Gaius lived his life it was apparent to others that he had his priorities right.
The world has its priorities wrong. The priority of the world is making money and gaining power. If that is accomplished one is considered prosperous. On the road to obtaining this prosperity people destroy their physical health with stress, lack of sleep, sexual immorality, alcohol and drugs. People seem to be willing to pay this price for what they consider prosperity.
People that are so called prosperous in the world are fearful that if they come to the Lord they will have to give up their hard fought for prosperity. They do not understand that God wants to bless and prosper those who love Him and honor Him in their lives.
Jeremiah writes in Jeremiah 29:27 a promise that was given to the nation of Israel. “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Throughout the Old Testament God promised prosperity to the people of Israel as long as they honored Him. When they failed God they not only lost their prosperity but eventually the whole nation was lost and scattered.
God’s first desire for us is that our souls will prosper. Our prosperity in life is dependent on what God blesses us with and as we learn in the Old Testament we learn that we will prosper in life depending on how our soul prospers. It must be our priority to walk in truth so that God can prosper us.
Our family is not what the world would call wealthy but we feel we have been very prosperous. God has blessed us far beyond what we deserve but not in riches or wealth. Our prosperity has been in good health, God given enabling strength, sound minds, loving, God fearing children and unusual ministry opportunities that could have only come from God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Thank You for guiding me in my walk with You. Give me direction, wisdom, and understanding as I learn to serve You so that You can use me to further the good news of the Gospel.
PROSPERITY
DEFINITION:
A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition.
SCRIPTURE:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. III John 2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
After Jesus ascended back to His Father in heaven, He left His disciples the task of tending His sheep (the followers of Jesus). The disciples were faithful to encourage the believers and to uphold them in prayer. John III is the apostle John’s personal letter of encouragement to Gaius, a fellow believer and faithful worker in the early church for the Lord. John wrote Gaius to commend him for his faithfulness and to let him know he was praying for him. John noted that Gaius spiritual state was so excellent that he was praying that his physical health would match his spiritual vigor.
It was a common practice for one to be asked when being met how his health was. Our physical condition is not something that is always apparent. Our spiritual condition, however, should be very apparent. Our Christian walk and the way we conduct ourselves should give evidence to our spiritual condition. John wrote Gaius that others had testified to him that Gaius was “walking in truth.” By the way Gaius lived his life it was apparent to others that he had his priorities right.
The world has its priorities wrong. The priority of the world is making money and gaining power. If that is accomplished one is considered prosperous. On the road to obtaining this prosperity people destroy their physical health with stress, lack of sleep, sexual immorality, alcohol and drugs. People seem to be willing to pay this price for what they consider prosperity.
People that are so called prosperous in the world are fearful that if they come to the Lord they will have to give up their hard fought for prosperity. They do not understand that God wants to bless and prosper those who love Him and honor Him in their lives.
Jeremiah writes in Jeremiah 29:27 a promise that was given to the nation of Israel. “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Throughout the Old Testament God promised prosperity to the people of Israel as long as they honored Him. When they failed God they not only lost their prosperity but eventually the whole nation was lost and scattered.
God’s first desire for us is that our souls will prosper. Our prosperity in life is dependent on what God blesses us with and as we learn in the Old Testament we learn that we will prosper in life depending on how our soul prospers. It must be our priority to walk in truth so that God can prosper us.
Our family is not what the world would call wealthy but we feel we have been very prosperous. God has blessed us far beyond what we deserve but not in riches or wealth. Our prosperity has been in good health, God given enabling strength, sound minds, loving, God fearing children and unusual ministry opportunities that could have only come from God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Thank You for guiding me in my walk with You. Give me direction, wisdom, and understanding as I learn to serve You so that You can use me to further the good news of the Gospel.
Run: June 25, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY JUNE 25, 2012.
RUN
DEFINITION:
Move swiftly or fast; make haste; rush; flee; race.
SCRIPTURE:
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The Greeks enjoyed two great athletic events. They were the Olympic Games and the Isthmian games. The Isthmian games were held in Corinth, so the believers in the church at Corinth were quite familiar with this analogy of running to win that Paul spoke to them about. (The verse above)
In athletic competitions there are short races and there are long races. To be a winner requires dedication and discipline on the part of the winner. Winning requires hours of diligent training and preparation. It requires sacrifice. The runner must be willing to give up things he or she would rather do, in order to prepare him or her to be a winner. It requires hard work to strengthen the body and to build up stamina. A short jog a day will not prepare a runner to be a winner.
Life is a race that we all must run and, as Paul says, we must all run with the goal of winning. This is what God expects of us. As we run, life is full of triumphs and reversals and as Christians we are not excluded from disappointments. We are to be faithful and run to honor our King who is Jesus.
The race we run as believers is not a short race. It is a marathon! We cannot hope to run this marathon successfully without preparation. To win the prize requires self-denial, dedication and discipline. It is essential that the believer prepare for the race by studying God’s Word, by prayer, and by worship. We must learn to deny ourselves of doing what we desire so that we can do what God wants. An occasional glimpse at the Bible and a quick prayer once in a while and going to church when we feel like going will not be sufficient to win. Believers must prepare themselves to win the race that God has set before them.
If we falter or give into sin because of the difficulties we face in life, we risk losing a rich reward at the end of our race in life. That is why we need to be prepared.
The goal of our race here on earth is to become more like Christ. At the end of our race we do not win a medal but we want to hear the Master say, “WELL DONE.”
There was a British sprinter who was obsessed in winning. In a preliminary dash leading up to the 1924 Olympics he was soundly beat by his rival at the time. He was in deep despair and when his girl friend tried to encourage him he responded by saying, “I run to win. If I cannot win, I will not run.” His girlfriend responded to him very wisely, “If you do not run, you cannot win.”
Paul says that in a race we all run, but only one receives the prize and that we should run in such a way that we may win it. If we do not run, we cannot win. Our Lord wants us to win, and He will enable us to win if that is our hearts desire.
In II Timothy 2:8, Paul tells us what the prize is. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.”
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Help me to run the race that I may obtain from You the words, “Well done.” Give me the stamina and the endurance to live my life exalting You even when the running gets tough. Keep my eyes focused on my goal to become more Christ-like.
RUN
DEFINITION:
Move swiftly or fast; make haste; rush; flee; race.
SCRIPTURE:
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The Greeks enjoyed two great athletic events. They were the Olympic Games and the Isthmian games. The Isthmian games were held in Corinth, so the believers in the church at Corinth were quite familiar with this analogy of running to win that Paul spoke to them about. (The verse above)
In athletic competitions there are short races and there are long races. To be a winner requires dedication and discipline on the part of the winner. Winning requires hours of diligent training and preparation. It requires sacrifice. The runner must be willing to give up things he or she would rather do, in order to prepare him or her to be a winner. It requires hard work to strengthen the body and to build up stamina. A short jog a day will not prepare a runner to be a winner.
Life is a race that we all must run and, as Paul says, we must all run with the goal of winning. This is what God expects of us. As we run, life is full of triumphs and reversals and as Christians we are not excluded from disappointments. We are to be faithful and run to honor our King who is Jesus.
The race we run as believers is not a short race. It is a marathon! We cannot hope to run this marathon successfully without preparation. To win the prize requires self-denial, dedication and discipline. It is essential that the believer prepare for the race by studying God’s Word, by prayer, and by worship. We must learn to deny ourselves of doing what we desire so that we can do what God wants. An occasional glimpse at the Bible and a quick prayer once in a while and going to church when we feel like going will not be sufficient to win. Believers must prepare themselves to win the race that God has set before them.
If we falter or give into sin because of the difficulties we face in life, we risk losing a rich reward at the end of our race in life. That is why we need to be prepared.
The goal of our race here on earth is to become more like Christ. At the end of our race we do not win a medal but we want to hear the Master say, “WELL DONE.”
There was a British sprinter who was obsessed in winning. In a preliminary dash leading up to the 1924 Olympics he was soundly beat by his rival at the time. He was in deep despair and when his girl friend tried to encourage him he responded by saying, “I run to win. If I cannot win, I will not run.” His girlfriend responded to him very wisely, “If you do not run, you cannot win.”
Paul says that in a race we all run, but only one receives the prize and that we should run in such a way that we may win it. If we do not run, we cannot win. Our Lord wants us to win, and He will enable us to win if that is our hearts desire.
In II Timothy 2:8, Paul tells us what the prize is. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.”
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:7.
If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
PRAYER:
Help me to run the race that I may obtain from You the words, “Well done.” Give me the stamina and the endurance to live my life exalting You even when the running gets tough. Keep my eyes focused on my goal to become more Christ-like.
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