Run with Patience

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1

This past Saturday morning, it was listed on my training days to run 16-18 miles. As I looked at the mileage, I first thought “no problem.” After all, I have already run a half-marathon and 13 miles twice in my training. However, when I got up to mile 14, I really began to struggle. My left knee began to ache, (runners knee), both of my hips were hurting, my back began to tense up and to be honest, I didn’t know if I could finish it. As I ran up one last hill, I was probably running slower than I could walk it. As I began to get to the mile 17 mile mark, my mind began to have thoughts of quitting and calling my wife to come get me. After all, I have already run 17 miles.

As I got to that point, I began to focus on the above verse. I began to concentrate on the last part of this verse, “run with patience.” When I got to mile 9, I began to wish that I was almost finished. But I had to continue running. I still had 9 more miles ahead of me. What does this require? Patience. The original meaning of this word “Patience” is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. Here is a question: What trial or suffering has come into your life to tempt you to quit the race? Finances? Marital issues? Loneliness? Self-defeating thoughts? Past failures?

Allow me to encourage you to run the race of the Christian life with patience. Many of those trials in life, God is allowing for our sanctification in order to strengthen us for the journey. As I finished mile 18, I had the feeling of victory that I had accomplished something. After all, it’s the longest I had ever run at one time. It just added to my endurance the marathon I will be running in September.

Lessons learned from a Hawk

A few years ago on a Sunday mornings, I arrived at the church at my customary 7:30 am to unlock the doors, turn on the lights, make the coffee for a couple of ABF classes, etc., etc. As I walked across the street from the church and through the parking lot, I looked up at the steeple and noticed something very striking. There was a large hawk sitting on the crossbeam of the cross atop the steeple. The hawk was just sitting and gazing at the horizon. As I stood there and watched, I began to watch as some black birds were beginning to fly up close to the hawk, taunt and try to remove the hawk from his perch. But the hawk just kept sitting there on his perch and seemed to be paying no attention to the small black birds that were taunting him. A couple of thoughts came into mind.

#1-As a believer in Christ, Satan will send his small blackbirds(demons) to taunt me and attempt to remove me from my perch. What are those blackbirds? Depression? Fear? Guilt? Addictions? A besetting sin? Emotional roller coaster from day to day? Pressure from your job? Loss of a job? Poor grades in school? Remember, as you take strides in your walk with and you increase in your love for Jesus, Satan will send his blackbirds. Consider that a blessing. He will attack whom he fears. He will not attack those who are just  not true believers or who deny the authority of the Scriptures in their life. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4

#2-Just like that hawk was ignoring the blackbirds, as a believer in Christ, I can choose to ignore Satan's blackbirds. " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 We have been given the strength and power through the Holy Spirit of God to be victorious in Christ.

#3-We can look upon the cross of Christ. Just like that Hawk was sitting on the perch of the crossbeam of the cross, our Savior on the cross paid for our victory. Dr. John Stott stated "The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us." "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16 Remember, there is no blackbird that comes your way without our Heavenly Father allowing them first. Remember Job? (Job 1:8 2:3) God is allowing those blackbirds to draw us closer to the cross.

Let me challenge you to be a hawk for Jesus. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58