Our Race Volume 1

As we journey in this life as a new creation made holy through our faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, we find ourselves placed on a track in a race. We learn that our lives are no longer our own and we have but only a set time on this earth to complete the task of our creation. Many saints in our beautiful Word of God has referred to this journey as a race. The illustrations we are given are very vivid in the same terminologies we use today to describe the sport of running. Our hope in this life is that we finish our race by the Grace of our Lord and at the end of our race we will have stored up treasures and crowns based on our placing in this race. Many souls are wondering the earth trying to find their purpose in life, while for us we have the play book and have found the hope in a life after death. We should run this race in a manner that will allow those who are standing off the track being spectators, find a desire building in their souls to run with us. Our running is not to please man or show others that are running beside us how fast we can run, but solely for the glory of the one who placed us on the track. Today, run in the blessed purpose of your salvation and allow those around you to burn with desire to run with you!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of running your race on purpose!!!!!

Acts 20

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.