Sept 8th Devotion

John North

Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Embrace the race God gives you!

I love the idea in this passage that God took the time to trace out a race for you to run. He took the time to map out a particular route, a certain pace, various teammates, key coaches, a set amount of resources, unique strengths, a marked distance, a distinct terrain, a definite climate... and the list goes on.

It’s a race you’ve been given, not one you’ve chosen!
Often we make the mistake of believing that we know what is best for ourselves. We end up wishing that we could have chosen the race we should have run, because our current one isn’t glamorous, rewarding or fun enough.

What increases that feeling of dissatisfaction with our own race is the comparison game we often play. We can spend hours and hours on social media, stalking our friends, acquaintances, celebrities, and people we don’t even like. The longer we look at their lives and compare them to our own, the more the feeling of dissatisfaction intensifies.

Harry Ironside once said "We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction."

Take some time out to thank God for all the good things that have come out of the race you have been given to run. Thank him for the people you have met during the journey. Thank him for the lessons you have learned. Thank him for how those stretching seasons led to you growing more and becoming a more mature person in Christ. Thank him for the times he was faithful to you despite your failures.

Trust that God had a reason for placing you in that job, in that neighborhood, in that family, in that church. Embrace his calling upon your life, follow his leading and things will start to fall into place.