2 Thessalonians 3:13
"And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good."
Have you ever imagined yourself running in a marathon? Well, if you're going to ask me the same question, I'll answer you with a proud, "No". It's quite tough for a non-athletic person to run at least 5K straight if he's not physically conditioned. What more if you try a 42K race? Sure, it's possible. But, have you ever imagined running a 42KM race with hurdles? Now, that's the question.
This idea got stuck in my head during our small group meeting last Saturday at our Pastor's house. We were discussing a lesson about trusting God despite of adversities in life. One particular quote mentioned was from John Piper. He says that, "The Christian life is not a 100m sprint. It's a marathon with hurdles." I was like "Wow, definitely true." I have no idea in participating in marathons or races, but I do know what living a Christian life is.
Some people say that the way of Christianity is the easiest because it just requires you two things: Repentance and accepting Jesus Christ. Sounds simple? Not really. If you're really the kind of person who's full of pride and self-esteem, it's more likely that you'll have a hard time accepting the fact that you're a larger than life sinner. Well, we're all sinners, so you're not alone. Being a new believer myself, I would say it's not all bliss when you're a Christian.
When you become a follower of Jesus, you know that your old self must die (sinful nature) because He already took it and put an end to it at the Cross (Col 2:14). So, your thoughts, actions, behavior, and everything else in between must be renewed in Jesus. However, since we were born sinners, we all have the tendency to commit sin, every once in a while that is. We were not guaranteed a sin-free life. It's more of a having a sin-proof one because you now have Jesus to save you and the Holy Spirit to lead you.
In 2 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica to tell them things about idleness and waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ's return. Specifically, in Chapter 3 verse 13, Paul instructs them to "never tire from doing good". It's an encouragement for us to follow Jesus Christ regardless of the things that may happen in our lives. That we continue to walk with Him and do good because this is what He wants us to do. But sometimes, life hits us in the face like a brick wall. We try to change but our sinful nature gets the best of us. We fail on our own efforts to become righteous in front of God's eyes.
This is where we go wrong. We don't change and become righteous ourselves. Jesus does that for us. And as long as you don't submit yourself and your sins to Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings, you'll just stumble in the hurdles while trying to crawl your way to finish the 42K run you just joined. But if you do, though you may stumble at times and you may grow weak while running the Christian life, you have Jesus dragging you and helping you through the race. So choose, will you run alone or run with Him?
Reflect on this: How do you face the stumbles and falls of your daily race in life? How does Jesus help you to run confidently and jump above the hurdles you encounter every day?
Prayer: Gracious God, first of all, I would like to thank you. Thank you for being with me all this time though I haven't been with you from the start. Though unworthy and unrighteous, you bore all of my sin so I could be worthy and righteous through you, Lord Jesus.
Forgive me Lord, for I have failed you far too many times and you know this. Though I repent and seek forgiveness, the tendency to sin is still there. Oh Lord of lords and King of kings, I submit to you all of my sin and all of myself. You clearly know from the bottom of my heart that I want to walk with you and serve you. So, Lord Jesus, I call to you to cleanse me of my sinful nature. Put to death my old self and bring me to a new life through your blood which was shed on the Cross. Only you can do this, Oh Lord, for I am utterly hopeless and weak. Only by your Grace can I be saved. And this I pray in your good name, Amen.
We can run the race with endurance. (Philippians 4:13)
ReplyDeleteWe have been equipped to run the race. "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3)
We must run the race in such a way as to win the prize. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV)