What is involved in the Christian race? It is not just asking Jesus to save you and come into your life. A verbal statement? No. In fact that is called out in the Old and New Testaments as hypocrisy Mth 15: 7-9 directly quoting Is 29: 13 but applying to the current situation of Jesus. So, nowhere is lip-service to the LORD acceptable as a means of identification with following Christ. Baptism is often seen as being evidence of running in the Christian race; but this was soundly denounced by Paul in Acts 16: 20, 23. Christianity is far deeper. It is allowing for the LORD Jesus to deal with who you are on the inside. Let me list some things that a Christian is; and starting with my final verse Mth 24: 13. A Christian is a person who continues all their life, with their relationship with Jesus; intact. What some people must go through, and still pull through- to get to the Kingdom of God Acts 14: 22. A difficult wife - Job 2: 10; another who made life unbearable for her husband 2 Sam 6: 16. What is a Christian? One who perseveres like the issues of Mark 3: 21 and John 7: 5. Or a wife 1 Sam 25: 25 who has a fool as a husband. So it is clear, all must suffer in the Christian race with persecution from family. We must suffer financial hardships, including people in full time ministry; perhaps a category you think should not have hardship - 2 Kings 4: 1 the prophet in debt. Borrowing to survive in the ministry to spread the word of God; and died in debt. Sickness leading to death- for a minister of God 2 Kings 13: 14. I am listing here a group of God’s servants to show you that these battles, family, health, finances are all a part of every Christian’s life. So, let me repeat; all of these things happen to you. No exemptions. And on top of all of these, we must handle situations like Mk 14: 50, like 2 Tim 4: 16. In your deepest problem, all will desert you. You are left alone to fight the battles. By yourself. So you arrive to a point that Jacob did; Gen 42: 36 - everything is against me. I would like to encourage you, that when you get these seasons of time; where harsh battles rage against you, and you may even feel you do not deserve them; but when they rage against you; Lk 21: 28 - take heart, your redemption is near. Sometimes in life, it is completely up to you to encourage yourself. Help, advice - when you are so emotional - well these things cannot penetrate our emotions. We are so hyper lost within our problems. Situations will change. As creatures of habit we are so unsettled with change, change, change. It is unnerving. You think you have a bit of a clean air and can sail away; then the wheels fall off the cart. You are grounded. Dear friends, perseverance is when all is against you. Your mind is spinning. Your emotions are sky high. You don’t understand what is going on. But something within you drives you forward, not to walk away from the LORD. It is a war. It is oh so hard to apply Col 3: 2 when your mind is so focussed on issues of life. But it is the only way. Focus on above. A tough call. No one said it was easy to persevere.
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