SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Hebrews 12:1-6
1 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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
MORE LESSON: 1 Timothy 6:12
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Wednesday, 8 October
Memory Verse: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:13
Apart from the fact that the Christian faith is a journey, it is also a race that comes with a prize. The Bible says the race is set before us, meaning we cannot evade it. It is a race that is heavenly in nature and despite the many distractions that exist believers can look up to Jesus for triumph. This race is not a sprint where the fastest runner wins; rather it is a marathon that requires endurance. We see Jesus our Master and perfect example enduring the Cross and thereby showing us the way to go.
Some quick lessons can be gleaned when we read Hebrews 12:1 in NLT, Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us (NLT). Clearly, there are things that slow us down and there are those that hold us back in this race. The wisdom is to do away with all such things. Sometimes the things that slow us down are not outright sins, but weights (weaknesses) such as too much sleep, too much talk, too much food etc.
Sin is not a friend and as such must be jettisoned by heavenly minded people. We may not come out with a list of sins here, but we know that anything contrary to the commandment of God is sin. In striving to keep the word of God we are kept from sin by the same Word. To enhance his heavenly race the psalmist said, Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11. We can take a cue from the above and make the word of the Almighty the cornerstone of our lives. As for Jesus, His staying power in His race while on earth was, He loved righteousness and hated wickedness Hebrews 1:9.
As we look up to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, the believer's life should be characterised by a love for righteousness and a hatred for wickedness.
Prayer/Action
* Ask for the strength to run the heavenly race today.
* Declare, Satan, the Lord rebuke you over my heavenly race, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Pray that by God's grace, you will endure to the end in this race.
TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Goodness and mercy shall follow me daily this month and I shall excel in the things of God, in the excellent name of Jesus.
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