Run
When someone runs that person will generally run
forward. When an athlete runs in a race, the athlete will run forward with the
goal to reach the finish line. I hardly see someone runs backward, it will be
very difficult and awkward I imagine. Using the analogy of an athlete, I
think it is a fair assumption to assume that the mindset of an athlete must be
clear from any distractions that may entangle him from reaching the finish
line.
To put aside any distraction is not always an easy thing to do, we are continuously bombarded with many things that can easily drift us away from reaching the finish line. The author of Hebrews made it very clear that is to put aside "every weight" or "everything that hinders" besides sin that easily entangles. One can argue that "I am busy doing things that are good" and that may be true and valid. But the question that needs to be asked is do those things bring me closer to God? Likewise with sin, one asks whether this or that is a sin or not, now the question needs to go beyond. So, what is it? One should start asking does it help me to run? Does it help me to run towards God in the race that is set before me? Do all things help me to run forward to or backward from God? So, our mindset should be like an athlete who is running in a race that is to stay focus. Whatever confronts us, we need to run with endurance and be clear on our focus that is fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith so we will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb. 12:1-3). Remember that Jesus had endured the cross, scorning its shame but now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). Jesus alone should be enough to motivate us to keep running and to finish the race well - reaching that finish line, such those who believe in him are his children, the children of Light.
Put aside all rubbish in our lives - the false pleasures that may look good for a moment but in fact destroying and killing our souls for eternity. Switch our mindset and run towards God alone for "He is our refuge and our fortress" (Ps. 91:2). How do you run and pursue God? There is no shortcut, spend time alone with the Lord in His Words, the scripture - read, study it, communicate with him in prayer continuously and last but no least live it out in obedience. It is my strong conviction, when you seek God alone with all sincerity and humility, the more you spend time with the Lord, the more you in tune with the Lord, the transformation - the renewal of your mind will start to take place within your soul as the Holy Spirit continues to work within (Rom. 12:1-2).
To put aside any distraction is not always an easy thing to do, we are continuously bombarded with many things that can easily drift us away from reaching the finish line. The author of Hebrews made it very clear that is to put aside "every weight" or "everything that hinders" besides sin that easily entangles. One can argue that "I am busy doing things that are good" and that may be true and valid. But the question that needs to be asked is do those things bring me closer to God? Likewise with sin, one asks whether this or that is a sin or not, now the question needs to go beyond. So, what is it? One should start asking does it help me to run? Does it help me to run towards God in the race that is set before me? Do all things help me to run forward to or backward from God? So, our mindset should be like an athlete who is running in a race that is to stay focus. Whatever confronts us, we need to run with endurance and be clear on our focus that is fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith so we will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb. 12:1-3). Remember that Jesus had endured the cross, scorning its shame but now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). Jesus alone should be enough to motivate us to keep running and to finish the race well - reaching that finish line, such those who believe in him are his children, the children of Light.
Put aside all rubbish in our lives - the false pleasures that may look good for a moment but in fact destroying and killing our souls for eternity. Switch our mindset and run towards God alone for "He is our refuge and our fortress" (Ps. 91:2). How do you run and pursue God? There is no shortcut, spend time alone with the Lord in His Words, the scripture - read, study it, communicate with him in prayer continuously and last but no least live it out in obedience. It is my strong conviction, when you seek God alone with all sincerity and humility, the more you spend time with the Lord, the more you in tune with the Lord, the transformation - the renewal of your mind will start to take place within your soul as the Holy Spirit continues to work within (Rom. 12:1-2).
"Do not be lazy. Run each day's race with all
your might,
so that at the end you will receive the victory wreath
from God.
Keep on running even when you have had a fall.
The victory wreath is won by him who does
not stay down,
but always gets up again,
grasps the banner of faith
and keeps on running
in the assurance that
Jesus is Victor."
(Basilea Schlink)
Run and pursue Christlikeness!
"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it
my own.
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus."
(Phil. 3:13-14)
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus."
(Phil. 3:13-14)
Comments
Post a Comment