"RUN THE RACE SET BEFORE YOU!"

Runners do not go to the starting line with their feet shackled or their coats on. To race well, runners must be prepared, and that means stripping off everything that might slow them down, trip them, or divert their attention from the finish line.

"WHEREFORE 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, Looking 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." Hebrews 12:1,2

How easy it is for believers to fool themselves into thinking that they can carry along some sin that turns their attention to themselves rather than to Christ and the goal that He has set for them! It is easy to forget the care of others, love for the loveless, and self-sacrificing for the suffering. Some foolishly think that they can run the race
with the shackles of greed, lust, or envy still binding them.

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1Corinthians 9:24-27

Jesus has come to be the coach and the trainer who will encourage us and stand by us as we run life's race. He empowers us to shift our gaze from ourselves to the goal, to take off the overcoat of sinful defensiveness and lay it on Him. He unshackles us from insecurity that drives us into greed, lust, and envy. The forgiveness He gained for us and His presence enable us to run, alive and invigorated by faith in His promised victory!

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." Ecclesiastes 9:11,12

Five statements of unexpected results are followed by an explanation. Man's ability cannot guarantee the results because of the equalizing effects of time and chance.

Application: One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is the peril of just remaining stationary, of doing absolutely nothing! Let's get into the race!! Let's get moving and not just drift along! We are racers! Here is a quote that I would like to share from J. Vernon McGee: "The Christian life is likened to a Greek race. Christ is the way to God, and along the way the Christian as a soldier is to stand firm, as a
believer is to walk, but as an athlete, he is to run the race. And one day we are going to fly, my friend ~ that will be at the rapture. We are going to do a little space travel to the New Jerusalem!"

Today's Devotion: "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." Luke 10:2,3

Heavenly Father, help us to move forward in our relationship with Christ. Free us from our sin and all the evil that entangles us. Lord, help us run life's race and reach You, our goal. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.

God Bless You All as you run the race by faith as you also live by faith.