Running For Jesus

What a treasure we hold in our hands when we open our Bibles!  Today a friend sent me an email which included some of my favourite verses, Hebrews 12:1-3:  "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, ² 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  It was a great reminder for a weary soul tempted to lose heart through discouragement.  Our focus is often on our problems, opposition, or failures rather than laying aside every weight and looking to Jesus.

How easily weariness comes to the human soul!  We can be weary in mind and body, weary of routine, tired of toil and seemingly fruitless labour.  And if we only look to immediate, physical proof of fruitfulness it may be we see nothing to show for our efforts.  This is most depressing!  Sometimes it feels like efforts to make disciples are hopeless, even as Ephraim was cursed in Hosea 9:14 with a "miscarrying womb and dry breasts."  Reading through Hebrews 11 reminds all who have ears to hear and hearts to understand God is leading us on a road embraced through faith demonstrated by obedience.  It is trusting God and obeying His Word even when it seems to be pointless.  It is willingly choosing to suffer affliction as a child of God rather than seeking satisfaction for the flesh.  The Christian walk is not always about great victories and feats of strength but the everyday grind of following Jesus in humility and repentance, being thrown off your feet, but choosing to rely on God's strength to stand up again with sword at the ready.

Everyone who chooses the path of faith in God will face opposition and persecution.  Yet all who rely upon God will be given the strength, fortitude, and endurance to see their race through to the end with joy.  The great prophets of God were often despised and ridiculed.  They spoke God's truth but were ignored and shunned.  Through the ages men and women have been killed for their refusal to cave to ungodly demands.  As the disciples of Jesus Christ He is our example we admire, adore, and follow.  He was rejected by those He loved, betrayed by one He had chosen, and forsaken by His friends.  He willingly faced the brutality of the cross and separation from the Father for the sins of the world with joy.  When Jesus breathed His last on the cross no one except God could have known what had been accomplished, for in His death He conquered sin and death for eternity.  Jesus endured to the end of His course with joy, and it is fitting for His disciples to do the same knowing we are victorious forever by His grace.

Look unto Jesus today, believer.  Lay aside every weight and sins which easily ensnare us.  Let us run the race God has set before us as we fix our eyes on our worthy Saviour.  He knows what you are facing better than you do, and He smiles upon you today.  Won't you hold His gaze and run for Him?  We're called to look to Jesus and run.  He will see we make it to our destination.

Treasure Not of Us

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

One of the first gold medals picked up by an Australian athlete in the Rio 2016 games was from an unlikely source, considering the strict gun restrictions in Australia.  Catherine Skinner edged her New Zealand opponent for a gold medal in the women's trap, a competition where clay pigeons are released from a spring trap and blasted with a shotgun out of the air.  In a series of victory interviews, I never once heard Catherine speak of the quality of her gun, the brand of shot or pigeon she prefers, or the skill of those who released the pigeons at the correct time.  Catherine needed her gun, shot, and clay pigeons to win, but she received all the accolades - and rightly so.  A quality firearm in the hands of a novice could never accomplish what she did.

Paul compared Christians to earthen vessels which God has placed His glorious Spirit within.  Humans are capable of many amazing feats and can possess amazing skills, but in comparison to the Almighty, Living God we are dirt moistened with blood.  How can we compare to the infinite God in our weak, fallen frame?  God has filled Christians with His Spirit so His light might shine in the darkness from these earthen vessels so He might receive all the glory and praise.  And rightly so!  It would be a grave miscarriage of grace and gifts to promote ourselves instead of glorifying our Saviour Jesus Christ who loves us, has saved us, and has given us eternal life.

If clay pigeons could talk, wouldn't it be utterly ridiculous for one to interrupt Catherine Skinner during her interview after winning the competition to ask, "But what about me?  Why aren't you praising my balanced weight or consistent flight?  Where's my recognition?"  Catherine was the one who demonstrated mastery marksmanship.  It would not be legitimate for the firearm or the pigeon to claim any right to her victory.  In the same way, we Christians as clay vessels whose hearts have been given the treasure of "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" are not worthy of any recognition.  Any perceived good in or through our lives exists only by God's grace.  We are as incapable of profitable service to God as a clay pot buried completely in the ground, for we were once dead in trespasses and sins.  Our fading, failing bodies are constant reminders our flesh remains under the curse of death, and how gracious is our God to shine into our hearts the Light of Life.

You Are Greatly Beloved

Daniel was a man of prayer.  Not many people have faced death by lions for their praying, but Daniel did!  Under the rule of Darius King of Persia, Daniel was promoted to be the first of three presidents over 120 princes.  The other leaders were not keen to have this foreign man ruling among them, so they tried to "dig up dirt" on Daniel.  But try as they might, they could not find anything of which to accuse him before the king.  There was nothing Daniel said or did to reproach his God or king.  Daniel was a man of such outstanding integrity of character the only way they could find fault with him at all was to create legislation which prohibited prayer to his God.

After God delivered Daniel from the teeth of lions and the schemes of murderous men, he continued to pray.  Chapter 9 of the book of Daniel contains one of Daniel's prayers offered to his God, and what a prayer it is!  He explained the divine power connected with a prayer of faith in Daniel 9:20-23:  "Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, ²¹ yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. ²² And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. ²³ At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision..."

The first thing to mention is men could not find fault with Daniel, but Daniel was quick to confess his sin before the God who knows all.  The prayer which God responds to is one of a humble soul who trusts in Him.  This shows me I too ought to confess my sin before the LORD, even if people are unaware of it.  This is the sort of prayer which brings divine revelation.  The angel Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly in response to Daniel's confession and supplication.  And the motive?  It was not because of Daniel's faithfulness, though he was faithful; it was not his great wisdom, for he still lacked understanding:  God responded to Daniel's prayer because he was loved by God.  "I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved," said the angelic messenger.

That is why God will answer your prayer, believer.  It is not because you are perfect, say the right words, cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes, and fast for days:  God answers your prayers because God loves you.  There are other reasons God answers prayers, but this single fact undergirds all God does because it is who He is.  Before our brains were formed to think, God supplied salvation and His divine answer, the revelation of eternal love through the person of Jesus Christ.  1 John 4:7-10 reads, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  If you ever doubt you are greatly beloved, you need not look beyond the cross to see the practical demonstration of God's love for you.

In light of God's love, what an encouragement it is for us to pray without ceasing!  When we pray because we love God, God will answer prayers because He loves us.  Prayer is intimacy with the Father through the Mediator Jesus Christ led by the Holy Spirit, the triune God moving in and through my life without hindrance.  How glorious is the love of God which has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, the One who gives understanding, wisdom, and discernment.  God loves all people, but He will reveal Himself in truth to those who prepare their hearts to seek Him in prayer.

Pray for Good

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

1 Timothy 1:18-2:2

Paul charged Timothy to fight the good fight, "having faith and a good conscience" (1 Tim. 1:19).  To this end Paul exhorted Timothy to offer requests to God, intercede on behalf of, and give thanks for all men, especially for those who were in authority.  What may surprise you about this exhortation is how positive it is in light of the depraved spiritual and moral condition of those he was to pray for.  One might assume it would be more in line with God's will to pray against Caesar, wicked Herod, and dishonest tax collectors.  But God's will is that we would pray for the good of others - even of wicked and foolish tyrants.

Timothy was to pray for kings and those in authority so people might "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."  This may seem like a self-serving motive, but reading the next verses makes it clear this peace is only experienced - not through political policy or government reform - when a person is transformed by God.  Paul continued in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  Instead of praying against godless rulers, Christians are called to pray they might come to Jesus Christ and be born again.  Only Jesus can bring a peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Nowadays there are a lot of other ways Christians try to "fight the good fight."  In a hopeless world it seems Christians can even lose hope in God's ability and power to answer prayers and try worldly methods to accomplish our will.  What does it profit to pray "against" leaders when God said to pray for their good and salvation?  Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-45, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."  This goes for Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, leader Kim-Jong-un of North Korea, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Phillipines, or United States presidential hopefuls Clinton and Trump.  No matter what you think of these men or women and the job they are doing, we are first called to pray they might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Have you fulfilled this heavenly mandate from your LORD, Christian?  Let us learn to give thanks for all those who are in authority, whether it be a spouse, church leader, boss, or local council.  All who are in authority remain under God's authority, and all will answer to Him.  Let us offer loving prayers before God's throne for all and in recognition of God's authority "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."