" I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." - 2 Tim 4:7-8 (NIV).
Parents are always excited for their children when they go out for sports events. Everyone would like to see his child not just compete but finish well. During the 1992 Olympics, Jim Redmond, a machinery shop owner in London, saw his son Derek, a top British 400-meter runner, suddenly drop to the track and grab his right hamstring. He couldn't finish the race. But the father immediately got up, beat security, lifted up his son and helped him cross to the finish line.
In the Christian life we too are in a race with a target to cross to the finishing line. The Apostle Paul pointed out, "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.." (Hebrews 12:1).
Paul was aware that to finish a race there could be distractions that come upon us suddenly interfearing with our progress. Such could be challenges which shake our faith. Perhaps we might be lured into some temptations that takes a grip over us. A dissapointment in a certain matter may equally weaken our faith.
But we should persevere with eyes on the prize. And for this, just as Jim got down to help his son Derek hobble to the finishing line, we have none other the Lord Jesus Christ, there ready and willing to help us to the finishing line!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, toady I pray that where my faith is weak, you come and lift me up, that I finish the race strong in faith, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
