The Race to Finish

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Focus Verse: Hebrews 12:1  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Maybe you have noticed when you watch a race, some runners start out very fast.  But if it is a long race, those runners may become too tired to finish the race well.  Because they have not paced themselves, they either quit the race early or finish with a poor time.  Smart runners don't carry backpacks or luggage when they run.  No, they have just the clothes they need to wear and a good pair of running shoes.

The apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race.  He says "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."  As I work in ministry in Kenya, I know that all of Africa will not be saved through my own efforts,  but I do know that God will help me disciple some to follow Him.  Some of those will, in turn, also make new disciples.  This can branch out like a tree of runners. 

So we pace ourselves in this Christian life to do what God enables us to do.  Paul has also told us to take off the backpack of anything that slows us down, but especially sin so that we can run this race strong.  Ineffective Christians are carrying the luggage of sin or other weights on their backs.  Paul says strip it off, get rid of the things that weight you down.  In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."  He encourages us to finish the race strong.

When we come to the end of our life, let us be able to say as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful."  Are you a disciple ... running?

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Choices

Scripture Reading: Genesis 13

Focus Verse: Genesis 13:12  “So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.”

We are faced with choices everyday.  Some are important choices and some don’t seem to be very important.  Abram gave Lot a choice of where to take his flocks and Lot chose the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley.  But this was also near the city of Sodom which was a very wicked city.  This was not a good choice for Lot because this wicked city dragged Lot and his family down spiritually. Why do you think Lot made his choice?

One of the greatest gifts God has given mankind is the ability to choose.  Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were given this gift of choice by God.  And we see early in the book of Genesis they made the wrong choice and disobeyed God.  God could have forced mankind to obey Him but God knows that when we choose to obey and love Him then it is a true love.  What if I forced my wife and children to love me?  I don’t want to receive that kind of love.  I desire them to choose to love me so then I know it’s a true love.

Sometimes we make the wrong choice and some wrong choices are sin. If you or I had been the first man or woman in the Garden of Eden we would have made the same choice to sin against God.  We can, however, be thankful that God has a plan for our sin.  God’s only Son Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross when He died.  But the power of God raised Jesus to life three days later, and has power over death and the grave.  Even though we can suffer consequences on earth for our sin, you can make a good choice to humble yourself, surrender and call on the name of Jesus today and ask forgiveness for your sin, and He will forgive you instantly.  You can start a relationship with God today through Jesus and the Holy Spirit can empower you to begin making right choices.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Nation Against Nation

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 24:1-14

Focus Verse:  Matthew 24: 7  “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.”

You may have heard in the news that Israel has been attacked, and Israel has declared war.  But these wars that happen between nations should not be a surprise to us because Jesus predicted this would happen in the last days.  Jesus also predicted famines and earthquakes.  We have seen many famines across Africa with thousands of people starving.  And earthquakes are happening with more frequency than ever before.  There are many signs happening that indicate we are living in the last days.

These signs should not strike fear in us.  We should be joyful, because these signs indicate that our Savior is coming soon.  So what should we do when we see all these signs happening?  We should continue to do what we (hopefully) have been doing, declaring the good news of the Gospel.  There are still many people and nations that need to hear the good news of the Gospel before it’s too late.  Jesus said in verse 14 “And the good news about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then the end will come.”

Maybe you will be the person who tells the last person about the Gospel before Jesus returns. That would be exciting.  So let’s not be too distracted by all that is happening in the world, but looking to the Lord , keep our lives ready, and continue with the task of making disciples for Jesus, and spreading the good news of the Gospel.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries