The Race of Your Life

Posted on August 6, 2021 by jesustrek

As I write this, the 2020 Olympic Games—held in 2021 because of the pandemic—are winding down. Soon all the athletes will be home and either contemplating retirement or thinking ahead to their next big competition.

The Bible often describes the Christian life as being like a race. We can learn some things from the sports world that will help us do a better job of living for Jesus.

First of all, participating in competitive racing requires some training. This involves watching what you eat and exercising vigorously. At the beginning of this year I set a goal of losing 10 pounds. As of this morning I have 14 pounds to go!

1 Timothy 4:12 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Exercise does us some good. Let’s take care of our bodies, since, as followers of Jesus, our bodies are a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. Take a walk. Ride a bike. Lift some weights. Just get moving! It will do you some good.

But this verse emphasizes training for godliness even more than physical training. Every time we say a prayer, read Scripture, worship God, do a good deed or witness to someone about Jesus we exercise our spiritual muscles. Every time we exercise spiritually we get stronger and become better equipped to run our race for Jesus.

Hebrews12:1-3 describes our race: “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, 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Many great heroes of the faith—like those listed in Hebrews 11—have gone before us and shown us how to live for God, trusting in him no matter what happens in life. They taught us by their example that we should never give up.

In order to run for Jesus, of course we have to throw off any sin that could entangle us. Don’t be tripped up by trying to live according to worldly values rather than the holy life that God calls us to live. As a matter of fact, it is not only sin that impedes us. We are to throw off “everything that hinders”. It is possible to be distracted by things that are not necessarily sinful, such as our career, our family, our hobbies, pleasures and other pursuits. Don’t let anything keep you from running your best race for Jesus.

This Hebrews text also calls for us to fix our eyes on Jesus. A passing glance is not good enough. Fix your gaze on our perfect example—Jesus. He showed us how to live. And he endured far more suffering than any of us ever will. Consider what Jesus went through so that you will not lose heart.

Finally, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 9:24-27—“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Only a few Olympic runners receive medals, but everyone who finishes the race for Jesus receives the prize of eternal life! So don’t falter! Don’t give up! The Bible offers no rewards for those who used to follow Jesus, but then gave up. But for those who persevere, God promises an eternal home in heaven!

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All Active

Posted on August 4, 2021 by jesustrek

A couple of preachers got together for a cup of coffee one day. During the course of the conversation one minister asked the other, “How many people do you have in your church?”

“About 100”, was the reply.

“How many of them are active?”

“All 100.”

“Really? I find it hard to believe that you have 100 members and all of them are active!”

“It’s true. 50 of them are actively supporting me and the other 50 are actively working against me!”

Sadly, this humorous story holds some truth for many congregations. It’s a shame that Christians can’t be more in harmony with one another. Jesus prayed that his followers would be united so that the world would know that God had sent Jesus to save the world (John 17). Much of our evangelistic success will depend on our ability to get along with one another.

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”—Ephesians 4:3.

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Benefits of Aging

Posted on July 30, 2021 by jesustrek

Some people complain about growing older, but if you think about it there are some benefits of aging. For one thing, you are not as likely to be kidnapped. And if you do happen to find yourself in a hostage situation you are likely to be the first one released.

Another positive thing about being older is that people are more patient with you. No one expects you to run. Anywhere. Ever.

Oh, here’s a good one. No one views you as a hypochondriac no matter how much you complain about your many ailments. They think that at your age this is normal.

By the time you get to be a senior citizen, there are no more lessons to be learned the hard way. You’ve already done all that!

What else? Oh, you can eat supper at 4:00pm if you want.

And the things you buy won’t ever wear out. They will last you for the rest of your life!

So, there are some benefits of aging. But for those of you who do not yet consider yourself to be old, here is some good advice—“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

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Things I Have Learned

Posted on July 29, 2021 by jesustrek

I feel that I am learning some things as I grow older. For example, I know that I need to take better care of myself. My goal is to lose 10 pounds this year. I only have 14 to go.

I have also learned that women who carry a little extra weight tend to live longer than the men who mention it.

I have learned not to bore kids with stories of how hard I had it when I was their age. They don’t really care that I had to walk 9 feet through a shag carpet to change the TV channel.

I have learned to be satisfied with who I am. I may not be that funny or athletic or good-looking or smart or talented…I forgot where I was going with this.

I have learned that in order to learn something new I must forget five things in order to make room in my brain.

Seriously, let’s keep learning!

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:14-16.

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Feeling the Pressure

Posted on July 28, 2021 by jesustrek
Simone Biles

One of the biggest sports news stories in some time is that Simone Biles withdrew from the gymnastic team competition in the Tokyo Olympics. This decision came just as the USA team was to compete for the gold medal. This development shocked the sports world. Many, if not most, consider Biles to be the greatest of all time in her sport. She has been able to perform feats in competition that have never been done before. Her strength and agility are absolutely amazing.

However, Simone suddenly lost her confidence. She became unable to determine the position of her body as she flipped and twisted through the air. This sometimes happens to gymnasts. They call it “the twisties”. It is similar to a golfer getting “the yips” and suddenly becoming unable to make a putt. The twisties can be dangerous for a gymnast. It must be an awful feeling to not be sure if you are going to land on your feet or on your head!

Biles did the right thing by pulling out of the competition. She realizes that there is more to life than gymnastics, and that she had to protect herself. Her teammates were shocked at first, but steadied themselves with a determination that made us proud. Simone cheered from the sidelines as her teammates valiantly competed, finally settling for the silver medal instead of the gold that had been expected of them.

This story reminds us that athletics is not just about physical health, but mental health as well. Before her decision to withdraw, Biles had said, “I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times.”

Pressure is something that all elite athletes must deal with, and sometimes it affects their mental well-being. World-class tennis player Naomi Osaka has received support for recently admitting that she has some concerns about her mental health. Former Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps now advocates the importance of tending to the mind after his past experiences of dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Some critics say that these athletes need to toughen up and work their way through these feelings, but most people are more sympathetic and understand that even the strongest people sometimes suffer from the pressures of life.

Paul the apostle, who is considered by many people to be the greatest Christian of all time, certainly felt the pressure at times, and he was not too proud to let it show. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 he writes, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.” In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul lists some of his many troubles: opposition from his enemies, physical torture, death threats, and shipwrecks to name a few. Then he says in v.28, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

So if you sometimes feel a heavy burden from the pressures of life, just know that you are in good company. World-class athletes and Jesus’ apostles have also felt the pressure.

Here are a couple of suggestions for what to do when you are feeling overwhelmed. First, it might be that you need to step back and take a break. Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39). You can’t do your best job of loving your neighbor if you haven’t first loved yourself enough to address any issues you might be having with your mental well-being. Take some time for self-healing and then get back in the game.

Secondly, trust God to get you through any crisis that has you feeling the pressure. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 says, “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”

Feeling the pressure? Then take care of yourself and trust God. He has not promised to exempt us from troubles, just to see us through them. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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How to Live a Powerful Life

Posted on July 27, 2021 by jesustrek

An energetic and somewhat ornery little boy once tried to get his mother to give him some money in exchange for his good behavior. His mother answered, “Why can’t you be like your father and be good for nothing?”

Nobody wants to be “good for nothing”. We all want to live meaningful and productive lives. Fortunately, the Bible is filled with information on how to do that.

In Acts 20, Paul the apostle was making his way toward Jerusalem when he called for the elders of the church at Ephesus to come and meet with him. He sensed that this would be the last time he would ever see these men with whom he had served; men whom he obviously loved. He wanted to speak to them one last time, and, as usual, his message was about how to live a powerful life for Jesus.

He said to them, “…You know how I lived the whole time I was with you…” (v.18). So first of all, a powerful Christian life is a life lived together with other Christians. I cringe every time I hear someone say that they can live for Jesus just fine without the church. The Bible clearly and consistently refutes that assertion. There were no “Lone Ranger” Christians in the Bible, and, unless you are stranded on a deserted island, there are none today. A Christian life is a life shared with other believers.

Secondly, a powerful life is one of service. In verse 19 Paul says, “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.” Some think that they are saved by what they believe, but if their faith is not accompanied by works, it is dead (James 2:26), and a dead faith can’t save you.

Notice that Paul says that he served with great humility. There is a danger of thinking too highly of yourself when you are doing the Lord’s work. A lady once told me that she thought I was a model preacher. I felt kind of puffed up about myself until my wife reminded me that the dictionary defines a model as “a small imitation of the real thing”. Whatever you do for the Lord, remain humble about it.

Notice also that Paul says that he served with tears and was tested severely. Serving Jesus is not easy! Jesus says that in this world we will have trouble, but that we should take heart because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Though serving the Lord can be extremely difficult, he will give us the strength to persevere through any hardship.

A third characteristic of a powerful life is to boldly share the word of the Lord. Verses 20-21 say, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” You may not have been called to preach in the same sense that the apostle Paul was, but every believer has been given the assignment to be a witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8).

Finally, in order to live a powerful life, we must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and finish the race that the Lord has laid out before us. Let the Spirit guide you and you will not go astray. Stay the course and complete the race.

Years ago a marathon runner in the Olympics was injured with several miles to go in the 26.2 mile race. Rather than drop out, he persevered all the way to the finish line, finishing long after the other competitors. Someone asked why he didn’t quit. No one would have blamed him because of the severity of the injury and the pain it caused him. He replied, “My country did not send me here to start a race. They sent me here to finish a race.”

The Lord wants us to finish the race he has laid out before us. And he wants us to live a powerful life as we do so.

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Instant Heroes

Posted on July 22, 2021 by jesustrek

A tour group once visited a picturesque village. As they walked by an old man sitting by a fence, one of the tourists asked in a very patronizing way, “Were any great men born in this village?”

The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.”

The flippant question had brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes—whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth takes time, and spiritual leadership must be earned.

“They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.”—1 Timothy 3:10.

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Facing Our Giants

Posted on July 15, 2021 by jesustrek

1 Samuel 17 records the famous encounter that David had with Goliath. The battle lines were drawn between the Philistine and Israelite armies. Goliath, a well-armed and experienced soldier who was nearly ten feet tall, was the Philistine champion. He issued a challenge to any Israelite soldier to fight him one-on-one in a winner-take-all battle. No one accepted the challenge because the Israelites all feared this giant.

The shepherd boy David visited the front lines and found out about this standoff. Even after hearing some discouraging words from his older brother Eliab, David volunteered to fight Goliath. King Saul also tried to talk David out of this fight, pointing out David’s youth and inexperience compared to such a seasoned warrior as Goliath.

Not to be deterred, David recounted his experience fighting off predators who intended to carry off the sheep he was keeping. He gave God the credit for rescuing him from lions and bears, and he proclaimed that God would also rescue him from the hand of this Philistine giant, Goliath.

Saul finally relented, and dressed David in the king’s own armor. However, David was uncomfortable in the armor because he was not used to it. So he took it off, picked up five stones from a stream and approached Goliath with nothing more than these stones and his sling.

Goliath mocked his approaching adversary and predicted an easy victory. David had a different prediction—with the Lord’s help he would kill Goliath and the whole world would know that there was a God in Israel.

We all know what happened next. David used his sling to sink a stone into the forehead of Goliath. Then David used the giant’s own sword to cut off his head. Seeing this, the Philistine army fled and the Israelites won the victory.

What can we learn from this story that will help us battle against our own giants? First of all, we have to know that there are two sides. The battle lines between good and evil have been drawn, and we must choose to fight for one side or the other. Spiritual warfare is real, and we have to take it seriously.

Secondly, we need courage for this battle. The Bible continually urges us to not be afraid, but to take courage. Those who give in to fear will not experience the satisfaction that belongs only to the victorious.

Third, we must not allow anyone to discourage us from accepting the mission that God has put in front of us. We must ignore any attempts to deter us from engaging in the battle.

Fourth, we need to remember the previous times God has helped us to be victorious. His power was sufficient then; it will also allow us to prevail in our current fight.

Fifth, we must be comfortable with who we are. We can’t go out fighting “in Saul’s armor”. Don’t try to be someone else. God has uniquely gifted you and has equipped you with everything you need to win the battle.

But it all starts with choosing sides. I like what Randy Harris said in summing up this situation—“God’s team wins. Pick a team. Don’t be stupid!”

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In This Together

Posted on July 12, 2021 by jesustrek

I do not know the backstory of either person pictured above, but you don’t have to know all the details to be impressed by what we see here. Two individuals who have something in common have found each other. Their paths may only cross for a brief moment, but in that moment something wonderful is expressed. Someone who has been down a difficult path has an unspoken message for a younger person who faces that same path. The message is that obstacles can be overcome, and that success–and the joy that comes with it–is well within your reach.

Whatever difficulties we have had to overcome in life, let us always be looking for opportunities to encourage others who face those same trials.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”—2 Corinthians 1:3-4.   

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The Last Song

Posted on July 10, 2021 by jesustrek
Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul’s Cathedral. His instructions called for a bugler to be positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul’s. After the benediction, this bugler played “Taps”, the universal signal that says the day is over.

But then came a dramatic turn. As Churchill instructed, after “Taps” was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of “Reveille”—“It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up in the morning.”

That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be “Taps”; it will be “Reveille.”

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”—John 11:25-26.

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