1 Corinthians 9:24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Oh Friends, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news first: It’s Monday morning! That means we have to get up and go to work. Chuh! The good news is that rain is in today’s forecast – the skies are dark and a little sprinkle has actually fallen. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as it was last night in the nation’s capital of Ottawa, where a sudden thunderstorm with 96 k.m per hour winds did much damage, including blowing down the outdoor stage of the Blues Fest Concert while Cheap Trick were performing. The band appears to be okay, but several people got injured. And to address the bad news, let’s sing our Monday morning battle hymn with trust and assurance. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Now that we’ve got the adrenalin flowing, we’re ready to go out and do battle, walk our talk, or as our Bit says, run our race. ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’ Yes my people, as they say, if you don’t have a ticket, then you don’t have a chance. The same holds true for God’s work: If you’re not actively participating in the race to bring about His glory, then you stand no chance of winning a prize. The only way to get any prize in God’s domain is by running the race and running it hard. The harder we run, the more we strive to become like Jesus and be obedient to God’s will, the bigger the rewards we’ll eventually receive. And Bruh Paul uses the analogy of a believer’s life as running a race in several of his epistles to enlighten and challenge his readers as to the great importance their overall behaviour plays in the church’s development. The same still holds true today Friends. Perhaps even more so, since the church is bigger and more firmly established, but with all the attendant problems that size, an entrenched bureaucracy, internal and external dissension and divisions bring. It is therefore vital that believers step up to the plate confident and assured, prepared to give of their best, for nothing but our best will do. Now let’s look at some of the instances where Bruh Paul talks about running the race. The first example comes from Galatians: ‘Then fourteen years after (later) I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up (prompted) by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.’ (Gal.2:1-2) But why would he, after fourteen years of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, go up to Jerusalem to get the apostles’ approval eh? It wasn’t really for approval of what he was preaching, in terms of it being correct, because he was sure of the validity of his teachings, since they came directly from Christ. His main concern was how he was bringing the Gentiles into the church, without circumcision on the basis of their faith in Christ. If the apostles didn’t concur on the matter, then his ministry would have been even more problematic than it was, and he would have run (laboured) in vain. But they did concur, and the rest is history. Anyway Friends, time and space are against us, so tomorrow we’ll continue with this topic, God willing of course. Till then, let’s stand steadfast and strong, look to Jesus our Lord and Saviour for all our needs, and He’ll certainly enable us to run our earthly race with vim and vigour, truly worthy of first prize. Much LOVE!…to win at anything…you first have to participate in something…
SCRIP-BITS 