Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Weary (05/03/12)
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TITLE: Running in His Shoes | Previous Challenge Entry
By LisaR Rider
05/06/12 -
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Have you ever run a marathon? Right about now, you may be thinking that I have, but truthfully, my running career lasted only one short afternoon:
It was the spring of my senior year of high school. A friend was on the track team and asked me if I would want to join. Somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I knew that I wasn't an athlete; but running seemed pretty basic. After all, I knew how to walk; running was just a notch above. I decided to go to the first practice.
On Day One of practice, the coach had us do a lot of warm-ups. I didn't particularly like that part, but I kept up so far. Then, he had us run. And run. And run.
My friend left me in the dust on the first lap. Somewhere around lap two, I lost feeling in my limbs. Lap three, I thought my lungs had turned inside-out. Lap four is a blur. Five... Six... Seven? I lost count at some point. Let's face it- I didn't have the endurance for running track. Thus, my track career started and ended on the same day.
Likewise, as believers, there are days that we may be spiritually dragging. As we raggedly run this race called life, some days we feel numb; other days feel like a blur. Yet, in Hebrews, we are encouraged to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." 1
This verse suggests that we grow weary because we carry loads that our not ours to bear. We shoulder the weight of worry and doubt, even though Jesus wants to take them from us. We also continue to carry our sin; Christ died for those sins, so that we wouldn’t have to! He wants us to let go of the past and run toward a better future!
Additionally, the Apostle Paul sums up his life in his letter to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Even as he sat in a prison cell, Paul understood that his faith was really what mattered; the race was difficult, but with faith, he could endure to the finish line!
Today, as we walk through the often maddening, mind-muddling, and sometimes mundane measures of our lives, may we remember Paul's example. Paul walked his life out by imitating our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We, too, can follow Christ’s example. We will never endure all that our Savior experienced as he was battered, beaten and crucified. How blessed we are that He loves us enough that He chose to carry the burden of our sin!
I may not be a track star, but through faith, I can run in my Savior’s shoes!
Run the race. Keep the faith. Don’t look back, but keep your eyes on the goal ahead! Run! Run!
1 Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
2 II Timothy 4:7 (ESV)
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Thnak you. God Bless~
I loved the comparison of running a marathon and our faith life.
And this: "My friend left me in the dust on the first lap. Somewhere around lap two, I lost feeling in my limbs. Lap three, I thought my lungs had turned inside-out. Lap four is a blur. Five... Six... Seven? I lost count at some point. Let's face it- I didn't have the endurance for running track."
--beautifully describles struggles and weariness of our faith lives.
The very last line is inspiring, and perfect.
How many times do we drag along things that we ought to leave at the foot of the cross? Many, many...this writing reminded me of hearing the good news as something new and fresh.
Really good!