……let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1b

“Let us run.” These are simple words and yet they are so profound. No one in all of history has ever won a race that they did not run. That sounds so logical and yet it is not quite true. It is possible to be an athlete and yet not compete. It seems that many Christians are quite content to do that very thing. Some are content to become Christians, content to have their sins forgiv- en, content to attend church on Sundays, content to go through the motions without getting in the game, content to sit on the sidelines watching while others play the game. John Maxwell estimates that 20% of the Christians in the church do 80% of the work. While the other 80% of Christians do only 20% of the work. Which category do you fall into?

To be a world-class athlete you can’t quit, quitters never win and winners never quit. Are you hurting and struggling this morning? Don’t give up. Help is on its way. When you feel like quit- ting remind yourself why it is that you run. When you are tempted to throw in the towel remember that you are not running for fame or fortune, but for your God. It doesn’t matter that you may set no world records. It doesn’t matter whether you finish first or last. God has called you to live this life and he expects you to finish the race. Here’s the secret with God. Everyone who finishes gets the gold.

A race with no route would be utterly meaningless. Can you imagine the gun firing and all the racers scattering in different directions. How would you know who won? Where would the finish line be? How long would the race be? When would it be over? There would be no answers to any of these questions without a racing route. Without a route the race wouldn’t be a race. The same is true with life. We are not called to run just any old race we choose in any way we see fit.

According to our text there is a specific race that has been marked out for each of us to run. Your race is probably different from mine. In fact your race is uniquely yours to run. God has a plan and a purpose for your life that only you can fulfill. Discover God’s plan for your life and then be determined to stay on course.

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Garment of Praise

Monthly Insights for Spiritual Growth, Encouragement and Personal Victory.

Oluyemisi Onanuga

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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