Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers, I am still
not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this
one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I
strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God
is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
When
I was in my twenties, I took up running as a form of exercise…and I
competed in a few 5K and 10K races. Working toward the race gave me
motivation and a goal. I had to train and prepare. I couldn’t just
show up on Race Day and run 3.1 to 6.2 miles…I had to build up my
stamina, endurance, and strength. So I would go on 3-to-6-mile runs
every day to get my body (and my mind) ready for the actual event.
I’ll
tell you, each day was different. Some “training days” were good…and
others I’d just as soon forget! In fact, even within the run itself, I
would tell myself, “Okay, you can’t think about the 4.5 miles you have
already run and how tired you are…you have to focus on this last 1.5
miles and getting finished.” Honestly, there were lots of times that I
wasn’t even all that concerned with how well I ran…I just wanted to be
done! And for me, it wasn’t about the prize or medal on Race Day…it was
about the personal satisfaction of knowing that I worked toward a goal
and completed it. But there were indeed “prizes” and medals…and I did
pick up a few - usually because in the early 1980s, there were so few
women who ran competitively!
Most of us are working toward
something…a high school diploma or college degree…a promotion at
work…saving up enough money to buy a house or a car…finding the right
partner and starting a family…saving for retirement…making it to the
eligibility point for receiving Social Security and Medicare
benefits…living to a certain age – or long enough to see our children or
grandchildren grown…or getting to travel to a certain destination or
experience things on a “bucket list”. Dreams and goals are important!
They give our lives purpose…and the “prize” or reward we seek often
motivates us to keep going.
I wonder…how motivated are we
spiritually? Do we truly desire to be better today than we were
yesterday? Do we really “press on toward the mark” and strive to do
more for Jesus each day? Do we get bogged down in our past and use that
as a crutch for failing to serve as faithfully or enthusiastically as
we should? Are we as diligent in our efforts to be faithful Christian
disciples as we are to save for a house or a car…or to achieve other
personal goals? Do we work as hard for Jesus as we do for ourselves?
Is
the “prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven” - the promise of
Eternity in His presence - enough motivation for us to “bring all of our
energies to bear” on what we do in this earthly lifetime? Shouldn’t it
be? Are we giving all we can to the one who gave so much for us, so
that we can rest with Him in Heaven someday? Or are we taking His
“prize” for granted…and “resting on our laurels”?
How you answer
these questions matters! Which “prizes” have caught your eye and
garnered your attention? You will have plenty of time to rest when
Jesus calls you “home” for good. What are you doing in the meantime?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label keeping our eye on the prize. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keeping our eye on the prize. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 3, 2014
Hebrews 4:9-11
So there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. Christ has already entered there. He is resting from his work, just as God did after the creation. Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
It’s been a school year for the books in Arkansas. Countless public schools missed as much as two weeks or more of scheduled attendance days due to winter snow and ice storms. Even with Saturday make-ups and cancellation of holiday breaks, the only option for many to get in all of the requisite days was to extend the school year into June. So in my community, “School’s Out for Summer” won’t happen for a few more days – and everyone is more than ready!
These teachers and students realize that they have a job to do…and that this is the means to an end. They must fulfill the requirements set forth by the state Department of Education and attend the minimum number of days the law demands. Then they can do something else…rest, relax, and play…work at a summer job…attend summer school or a camp…travel, and more.
A restful break is important for teachers and students. Both need time to mentally and physically unwind…to do something a little different…even if that means a summer job or attending classes. The “change of scenery” is healthy and enables each person to regain focus when school resumes in the late summer/fall. In this instance, the “summer break” fulfills a goal…it enables students and teachers to “regroup” so that they can give their very best effort in the weeks and months when school recommences.
In life itself, many of us are weary. Events and circumstances have come together to cause a particular situation to “run long”…and we are in serious need of rest and respite. How many times have you asked yourself, “Will this never end?” Have you ever wondered how much longer you could endure a particular situation? Have you longed for “light at the end of the tunnel”? Are you running on fumes…physically, mentally or spiritually?
In Hebrews 4, we see that God offers us rest…both now, and for all Eternity. We are promised complete rest in Him when we get to Heaven. As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we are guaranteed a forever place of peace at His feet when our earthly journey ends. But we are also offered rest and respite in this lifetime - a “summer break” of sorts. We can rest in the LORD…here and now. We can give Him our burdens…our frustrations…our challenges…our weariness. We can say, “Father, I cannot do this by myself. But with YOUR strength and power, I know anything is possible.” We have a long-term goal…but we also have a present hope!
So whether you are counting the minutes until this weekend and the last bell of the school year…or you are wondering how you will make it through each hour of this day…God offers you full and complete rest. Won’t you get in on this for yourself? Aren’t you ready for a break?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. Christ has already entered there. He is resting from his work, just as God did after the creation. Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
It’s been a school year for the books in Arkansas. Countless public schools missed as much as two weeks or more of scheduled attendance days due to winter snow and ice storms. Even with Saturday make-ups and cancellation of holiday breaks, the only option for many to get in all of the requisite days was to extend the school year into June. So in my community, “School’s Out for Summer” won’t happen for a few more days – and everyone is more than ready!
These teachers and students realize that they have a job to do…and that this is the means to an end. They must fulfill the requirements set forth by the state Department of Education and attend the minimum number of days the law demands. Then they can do something else…rest, relax, and play…work at a summer job…attend summer school or a camp…travel, and more.
A restful break is important for teachers and students. Both need time to mentally and physically unwind…to do something a little different…even if that means a summer job or attending classes. The “change of scenery” is healthy and enables each person to regain focus when school resumes in the late summer/fall. In this instance, the “summer break” fulfills a goal…it enables students and teachers to “regroup” so that they can give their very best effort in the weeks and months when school recommences.
In life itself, many of us are weary. Events and circumstances have come together to cause a particular situation to “run long”…and we are in serious need of rest and respite. How many times have you asked yourself, “Will this never end?” Have you ever wondered how much longer you could endure a particular situation? Have you longed for “light at the end of the tunnel”? Are you running on fumes…physically, mentally or spiritually?
In Hebrews 4, we see that God offers us rest…both now, and for all Eternity. We are promised complete rest in Him when we get to Heaven. As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we are guaranteed a forever place of peace at His feet when our earthly journey ends. But we are also offered rest and respite in this lifetime - a “summer break” of sorts. We can rest in the LORD…here and now. We can give Him our burdens…our frustrations…our challenges…our weariness. We can say, “Father, I cannot do this by myself. But with YOUR strength and power, I know anything is possible.” We have a long-term goal…but we also have a present hope!
So whether you are counting the minutes until this weekend and the last bell of the school year…or you are wondering how you will make it through each hour of this day…God offers you full and complete rest. Won’t you get in on this for yourself? Aren’t you ready for a break?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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