As we run our race in Christ, the enemy tries to disqualify us, one by one, in a number of ways. First , he will use the desires of our hearts to draw us away from the track subtly. We first start off maybe talking to someone new in our lives of the opposite sex. As we progress in the relationship with that person one day we wake up to see that we are no longer on the track and the people we were running with are long ahead. The relationship between two individuals is not the problem, it’s when the relationship interferes with our relationship with the Father and hinders us from running our race. Second, the enemy uses family and friends that you once may have been very real close to, to distract us from running. They will come out of the wood work trying to do some of the things we use to do with them before our conversion. Then when we try to tell them we have been changed and we try to help them find the peace in Christ we have found, they start to tear us down. They will use guilt tactics and remind us of all of the things we use to do and call us a hypocrite. Third, but certainly not last, the enemy will use the sin that may be still in our life to keep us bound. We all know the saying; “I just got this one thing I am struggling with, and you know we all got that one thing”. Well while we are struggling with that one thing the enemy keeps us in a crazy cycle of being free from it and then back in bondage. This is what takes up our time, strength, motivation, and peace. We are so busy trying to be free we don’t even notice that we stepped off the track and are no longer running. There are many other examples that we all can list but they will all fall under one of these three categories; lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, or the pride of life. Those were the same three the enemy used against Jesus in the wilderness in the form of the rock/bread, kingdoms of all nations, and proving that He was the Son of God. Today, while there is still time, look around and see if you are on the track and running, or have you been disqualified and find yourself on the sidelines. If you are on the sidelines, cry out and run back to the Gospel and your first Love, Jesus Christ!!! Jesus wishes for us all to be free and to run the race to bring His Father glory!!! If you are running, continue to press towards the mark of your calling!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of running your race on purpose!!!!!
Hebrews 12
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.
God Disciplines His Children
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
No comments:
Post a Comment