Dear Runners,
When I was 3 years old my left knee started to swell, and swell, and swell! My father and mother took me to doctors, but they were unable to diagnosis the cause. Finally, they took me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The surgeon said, “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, we are going to have to operate on your son’s knee and we are sorry, but he will never run again. They operated and I have been running ever since – ok very slowly now. There was something that the surgeon did not know!
Paul said this to the Christ followers in Corinth, as apparently, they had forgotten something that they should have remembered.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:19-23
As Christ followers we are all in this race together. We come this Sunday to Hebrews chapter 12 after spending months in Hebrews 11 focused on those Old Testament saints who finished their race. Here is our verse, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Heb. 12:1
Are you running to win? Are you laying aside weights that weigh you down? Are you giving in to sin or resisting sin in the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you have your eyes focused on the Lord Jesus as you run?
I do not know if you are running or stumbling but I do know for sure that there is, “grace to race.” We will examine the kind of grace that is needed to run with endurance the race our Lord has mapped out for us.
Consider again inviting someone this Sunday who may have wandered off the narrow way or someone who has not experienced the joy of running with the Savior of the world. If not this week, then to our Good Friday service at 7 pm as well as Easter Sunday at 10:45 am.
Running to win,
Glen
Foster the City – “Take up the cause of the fatherless” – Isa. 1:17. Valley Church is starting a partnership with Foster the City, an organization that equips churches to provide loving homes for children in foster care. Please come to an interest meeting this Sunday at 12:30 pm in the Campus Center. For more info, talk to Elena Jones or visit fosterthecity.com.