What is your race?
Key Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-11
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the auhor and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord
Nor be dicouraged when you are rebuked by Him
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives
If you endure chastening God deals with yo as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
But if you are without chastening of which all have been partakers, then you are illegitamate and not sons.
Furthermore we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; neverthertheless, afterward is yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
In many aspects life is compared to a race. To be precise it is a marathon and God wants us to run that race, no matter how long it takes. There are rules that apply to races but especially the marathon. The first one is this: You need to train to run the race. You cannot just wake up on a specific day and decide you want to run a marathon. The second rule is this: You need to be medically as well as physically fit. Good's Word is clear about our lives being lived as a race and only those who endure finish.
1. Emancipation- Heb 12:1-3
1.1 The things that hold us back in life are the things that we permit to hold us back
1.2 Don't struggle with your sin but keep running the race God has called you to.
1.3 Don't be a treadmill Christian. This means you run hard but you end up at the same place.
1.4 Jesus never lost His focus. There was a joy set before Him and that joy was the salvation of many people and because of that He endured the cross.
2. With endurance- Heb 12:4-11
When your hear is hardened it will not accept chastening even when it is deserved.
3. With a goal in mind- 1 Cor 9:24-27
3.1 Focus on the goal which is your race
3.2 accomplish something and do it well that God can bless it
3.3 We are called to be faithful and not successful
3.4 Man up and run the race that is set before you
Jesus ran His race well and if we want to do the same stop focusing on being successful in the world's standards and start being faithful. God will see your effort and you will be rewarded with an imperishable crown
