I’ve never owned a hamster but I’ve seen two items they have that seem really cool for the hamster. First is that clear ball thing that you put them in – has air holes but it is literally a clear hard plastic ball that you enclose them in and they run and the ball rolls around – hamster stays inside just running, seems like good excersize and a way to get him out of the cage a bit. The other is a wheel you can put in the cage so the hamster gets on and runs – in place running – in circles – oh it’s good for the hamster but –it is going no where in a big hurry. Gladly the hamster has no idea, he just runs.
So the question is have you ever felt like that hamster – running and running but going nowhere in a big hurry? What does your race look like? Are you running a race or just walking along? DO you know that you have a race? What does it look like to you?
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
I pasted the entire scripture above because I really like so many part of this one and its worth reading again and again. I come back to it many times in my study or devotionals or just day to day. Because it really speaks to me. So today I am focused on the part where it says the Race Marked Out For Us. We have a race, it’s call life. Some days we run, some days we walk and some days we stand in place shaking our heads and cry – why? I know you can identify with this one for sure.
How do we know when to just jump off that wheel and run. Run like we are closing in on that finish line and we get a big trophy for entering, competing and finishing this race. There is a line in Facing the Giants (yes I’m quoting it AGAIN) where the assistant coach is talking to a new guy David, trying to kick the ball between the goal posts. He says it can be wide ride or wide left (Narrow is the path – Matthew 7:13-14), it doesn’t have to look pretty it just has to get between the posts. How true that is. Some days our race is not pretty. Some days its all we can do to get up and walk forward much less run. I encourage you to keep the passion for running your race and I give you another version of this scripture because it is really amazing and I think it will encourage you to Mark it out and run that race!
Hebrews 12 The Message Discipline in a Long-Distance Race 12 1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Ok wow. That just gets me revved up and going. Break it down. Jesus ran the race ahead of you and me - to blaze the path. To give us something and someone to follow. You don’t have to worry about cutting down the big weeds in the road, Jesus did the leg work for us. Again from Facing the Giants – if we win we will praise God and if we lose we will praise God. Either way we do our VERY best and leave the results up to God.
Do you have to know every step before you run? No! Do you need a path, yes and Jesus carved it out already so you don’t need a map necessarily you just need to follow God’s plan for your life. If you don’t know already then study up and pray about it. I know God will answer you. For now know this about Jesus…He IS The path.
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” [the Samaritan woman] said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?” … Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” — John 4:10-11, 13-14 (NLT)
God has given us this desire to be known, to make a difference, to have our lives mean something in the end. It’s just a matter of finding the right answer the right way and through the right source.
So – Ready – Set – GO
Dear Jesus, First, thank You for being our Living Water, thank You for paving the way. For being our best example. Please be with us as we forge forward and run this race. Help us run it Your way. Show us clearly the path to take and how to manage on days when the hurdles are very high. We thank You for what we know in advance You will do in our lives. I ask all in Your Name - AMEN