FINISH THE RIGHT THING – THE RACE OF FAITH
Kenute P. Curry
It is very clear beloved that we are in a race unlike any other; where temptations abound and distresses occur. On every side of us situations and circumstances loom to drown us in an ever-sweeping tide. Can you see the lights of home? There they are, right over the next wave. It won’t be long when our redemption will draw nigh.
1. PAUL WANTED TO ATTAIN (Arrive At) THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. HIS SECRET WAS FORGETTING THE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORWARD TO WHAT IS AHEAD. HIS GOAL WAS THE HEAVENLY CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:10-12).
2. I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, FINISHED THE RACE, AND HAVE KEPT THE FAITH (2 Timothy 4:7).
3. WE ARE TO RUN THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE, GETTING RID OF EVERY WEIGHT AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENSNARES US. THERE ARE A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES WATCHING US, AND OUR EYES SHOULD BE FIXED ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. IT IS JESUS EXAMPLE THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW, WHO ENDURED THE CROSS AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Isaiah 40:31
4. PAUL DETERMINED TO FINISH HIS RACE WITH JOY, WHICH HE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE LORD JESUS (Acts 20:24).
5. WE CAN OVERCOME THE WORLD BY BELIEVING THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD; OUR FAITH IS THE SECRET TO OUR VICTORY. THE ONE WHO IS IN US IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD (1 John 4:4; 5:4-5).
6. JESUS KEPT HIS EYES ON THE JOY THAT GOD HAD SET BEFORE HIM (Hebrews 12:2).
7. THE GOOD WORK THAT GOD BEGAN IN US WILL BE COMPLETED WHEN JESUS CHRIST RETURNS (Philippians 1:6).
Revelation 2:17
8. WE LONG TO HEAR THE WORDS “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT” (Matthew 25:23; 2 Corinthians 10:18).
9. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO ENDURES TEMPTATION, FOR HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE (James 1:12).
Beloved, I can think of no other race to be in than the one that is headed toward our final destination – at home with our Lord and Savior. The word race in the Greek is “agon” from which we get the word “agony.” Our race is sometimes very demanding and grueling, but there are glimpses of eternal glory along the way. Let us focus where Jesus focused. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In that moment, the race will have been worth it all.
March 1st 2014
©2014 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
JOHN MacARTHUR – The MacArthur Study Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, Tennessee: Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson Inc. 1997)
HCSB STUDY BIBLE – Holman Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers 2010)
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