"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus..." (Heb. 12:1-2, ESV).
As Paul's swan song (2 Timothy) expressed: to get back his manuscripts while he was under house arrest; his cry of exultation was, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race [course], I have kept the faith," (2 Tim. 4:7, ESV). We are all to run so as to win (following the rules) and not be encumbered with the worries of the mundane in our race, just like a soldier is unconcerned of civilian affairs. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, and our citizenship is in heaven (cf. John 18:36; Phil. 3:20, ESV). Don't get too comfortable in this world, for we are mere pilgrims passing through to the heavenly city.
It doesn't matter how well you start if you don't finish well. Our reward is not according to our faith, but our works, what we did with it (cf. Rom. 2:6; Psa. 62:12; Prov. 24:12); how we apply it. The race set before us is not a sprint but a marathon, and endurance matters; however, there is the danger of spiritual burnout if we don't know how to balance our life and keep the main thing the main thing, keeping our eyes on Jesus (cf. Heb. 3:1: 12:2). Walking with Christ gives us the power to do anything in the will of God (cf. Phil. 4:13).
Col. 2:6 tells us that just as we "have received Christ as Lord, so walk in Him" as Lord. Lordship decisions are not a one-time matter at salvation, but progressive as we are being constantly filled with the Spirit (cf, Eph. 5;18) and keeping on the straight and narrow. Mother Teresa, now canonized, who also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, said that God doesn't "call us to success, but to faithfulness!" The key is that we are faithful in the little God gives us, not to compare our ministry or mission to others. We all are unique in our calling and gifts.
Jesus did say that he who is faithful in little shall be faithful in much! And to whom much is given, much is required. An example is the widow who gave two lepta (copper coins) and Jesus commended her as having given more than anyone in the worship meeting. Saint Theresa announced she was building a convent and was asked how much she had; when she told them only twelve pence, they said, "Not even Saint Theresa can do much with twelve pence!" The reply: "But Theresa and God can do anything with twelve pence!"
The important idea to bear in mind, is not to be conformed to the image of the world (i.e., the rat race, the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest, etc.) and not to be achievement-oriented, for God doesn't want our achievements, but our obedience, and us! What matters is not how much of the Spirit we seem to have but our obedience--how much the Spirit has of us! Bear in mind: Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that "only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Christianity is not about man's achievements then, but God's accomplishment on our behalf--we are to let God work through us (Hos. 14:8; Isaiah 26:12; Rom. 15:18) as "vessels of honor."
Jesus warned of the builder who didn't count the cost and had to abandon his building, and so earnest believers must be aware of what they are getting into--a life of self-denial, devotion, a discipline. Jesus never encouraged lackadaisical, lukewarm, halfhearted, or insincere followers. The reason other religions are so popular, namely Buddhism, is that you don't die to yourself. In our race we are not in competition with each other, in the sense so as to compare ourselves with one another: who is the best Bible pastor/teacher in town are (or best exegete, biblicist, even Bible expositor, etc.) God will level the playing field--who is faithful matters--results are up to God!
We all have our own calling and gift to present unto the Lord in a life of obedience, following Him wherever He may lead. Maturity is never measured by emotion or feeling, though they are present even if one is stoical, not demonstrative, nor is it measured by ecstasies or experiences (according to Oswald Chambers), including dreams, visions, including audible or visual encounters, but solely by a life of obedience and faithfulness, which will be tested by fire to see if we grow bitter or better. It is vital to know that the Christian life is not a contest to see who dies with the most toys, publishes the most books, preaches the most sermons, gives the most to missions or charity, and so forth, but "obedience to the heavenly vision," doing God's work and will, as it were, like Paul delineated our walk.
The song by ABBA, "Winner Takes It All," is a fallacious worldview since Jesus owns it all and shares the victory with us, we shall all have the opportunity to win an imperishable wreath that won't fade away, and a crown, if you will, for rewards of faithfulness. Remember one's last words are very telling of one's life work! Famous last words: Good intentions; poor follow-through! Corrie ten Boom said, "Jesus is victor!" for us! The Preacher of Ecclesiastes renders some timely, germane words of divine wisdom to conclude with: "Finishing is better than starting..." (7:8, NLT); "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all" (9:11, ESV). Soli Deo Gloria!
As Paul's swan song (2 Timothy) expressed: to get back his manuscripts while he was under house arrest; his cry of exultation was, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race [course], I have kept the faith," (2 Tim. 4:7, ESV). We are all to run so as to win (following the rules) and not be encumbered with the worries of the mundane in our race, just like a soldier is unconcerned of civilian affairs. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, and our citizenship is in heaven (cf. John 18:36; Phil. 3:20, ESV). Don't get too comfortable in this world, for we are mere pilgrims passing through to the heavenly city.
It doesn't matter how well you start if you don't finish well. Our reward is not according to our faith, but our works, what we did with it (cf. Rom. 2:6; Psa. 62:12; Prov. 24:12); how we apply it. The race set before us is not a sprint but a marathon, and endurance matters; however, there is the danger of spiritual burnout if we don't know how to balance our life and keep the main thing the main thing, keeping our eyes on Jesus (cf. Heb. 3:1: 12:2). Walking with Christ gives us the power to do anything in the will of God (cf. Phil. 4:13).
Col. 2:6 tells us that just as we "have received Christ as Lord, so walk in Him" as Lord. Lordship decisions are not a one-time matter at salvation, but progressive as we are being constantly filled with the Spirit (cf, Eph. 5;18) and keeping on the straight and narrow. Mother Teresa, now canonized, who also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, said that God doesn't "call us to success, but to faithfulness!" The key is that we are faithful in the little God gives us, not to compare our ministry or mission to others. We all are unique in our calling and gifts.
Jesus did say that he who is faithful in little shall be faithful in much! And to whom much is given, much is required. An example is the widow who gave two lepta (copper coins) and Jesus commended her as having given more than anyone in the worship meeting. Saint Theresa announced she was building a convent and was asked how much she had; when she told them only twelve pence, they said, "Not even Saint Theresa can do much with twelve pence!" The reply: "But Theresa and God can do anything with twelve pence!"
The important idea to bear in mind, is not to be conformed to the image of the world (i.e., the rat race, the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest, etc.) and not to be achievement-oriented, for God doesn't want our achievements, but our obedience, and us! What matters is not how much of the Spirit we seem to have but our obedience--how much the Spirit has of us! Bear in mind: Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that "only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Christianity is not about man's achievements then, but God's accomplishment on our behalf--we are to let God work through us (Hos. 14:8; Isaiah 26:12; Rom. 15:18) as "vessels of honor."
Jesus warned of the builder who didn't count the cost and had to abandon his building, and so earnest believers must be aware of what they are getting into--a life of self-denial, devotion, a discipline. Jesus never encouraged lackadaisical, lukewarm, halfhearted, or insincere followers. The reason other religions are so popular, namely Buddhism, is that you don't die to yourself. In our race we are not in competition with each other, in the sense so as to compare ourselves with one another: who is the best Bible pastor/teacher in town are (or best exegete, biblicist, even Bible expositor, etc.) God will level the playing field--who is faithful matters--results are up to God!
We all have our own calling and gift to present unto the Lord in a life of obedience, following Him wherever He may lead. Maturity is never measured by emotion or feeling, though they are present even if one is stoical, not demonstrative, nor is it measured by ecstasies or experiences (according to Oswald Chambers), including dreams, visions, including audible or visual encounters, but solely by a life of obedience and faithfulness, which will be tested by fire to see if we grow bitter or better. It is vital to know that the Christian life is not a contest to see who dies with the most toys, publishes the most books, preaches the most sermons, gives the most to missions or charity, and so forth, but "obedience to the heavenly vision," doing God's work and will, as it were, like Paul delineated our walk.
The song by ABBA, "Winner Takes It All," is a fallacious worldview since Jesus owns it all and shares the victory with us, we shall all have the opportunity to win an imperishable wreath that won't fade away, and a crown, if you will, for rewards of faithfulness. Remember one's last words are very telling of one's life work! Famous last words: Good intentions; poor follow-through! Corrie ten Boom said, "Jesus is victor!" for us! The Preacher of Ecclesiastes renders some timely, germane words of divine wisdom to conclude with: "Finishing is better than starting..." (7:8, NLT); "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all" (9:11, ESV). Soli Deo Gloria!
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