Not that I was great at it, but that I did well enough I liked to run. Greg in his seventh grade year went out and ran cross-country. I remembered how much I enjoyed it myself, encouraged him. Greg was not a cross-country runner. Having said that, Greg was not a quitter either. I was very proud, he continued to improve as the year went on.
The next year he told me he was going to run… er… play chess. He could do that and he did that well. Sometimes we think there is only one thing that we can do. That is not always the thing we do well. Run the race God has for you, not for others. But run the race. Run it well. Run it hard. Run.
If we are to consider running…
Luke 14:25-33 - 25And there went great multitudes with
him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother,
and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
he cannot be my disciple.
27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot
be my disciple.
28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down
first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to
finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not
down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him
that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an
ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he
hath, he cannot be my disciple.
1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
We finish but one way (in or out of the race) – we need to run
The prize is worth the effort – Paul does not mean only one will finish – I think only one can get our prize
The race is worth the effort
The effort should be great too – 26-27
Another area to consider are…
Galatians
5:7 KJV Ye did run well; who did
hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Philippians 2:16 KJV Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice
in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Pressures from others
Dangerous courses
Chance of failure
Difficulty running
Weariness
Lack of training
Philippians 3:9-14 KJV 9And be
found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before,
14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus.
His team
His plan
His reward
His victory
Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV 1Wherefore seeing we
also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run
with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
“Unneedful” or unnecessary things will weight us down
We need to remember we are really running in a relay race
Others are encouraged by our run
2 Timothy 4:6-7 KJV 6For I am
now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith:
Life is hard to rewind - run while you can and run it well
Life is playing out before us without a pause button –
Watch it close
Finish the race
2 Timothy 4:8 KJV Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 020809pm