One way Paul described this life was a race.  The message translation of Hebrews 12,”It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.”

Paul was serious about his race.  Are we as serious about our race?  You might tell me that you have too many things in your life to be serious about anything.  You might tell me you are just too busy.  Well, let me tell you what Jesus said when summarizing life on this planet Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”(The Message)  Jesus was very clear that nothing should take precedence over your relationship with God the Father.

I remember a teaching about filling a jar.  The person had big rocks, smaller rocks, and sand.  In order to get the most into the jar, he showed us that the big rocks went in first, then the smaller rocks and finally the sand.  His point was that we should put the biggest rock in our schedule before anything else.  I know in my life the biggest rock is Jesus.  Jesus has the primary place and everything else takes second.  How many times do I get busy and put Jesus down to third or fourth place?  I know this, when I move Jesus from the primary position, life does not go the same.  It will not be long before I realize that I need to stop and put Jesus back to number one.

How do we put Jesus first?  Put Him first in the morning with prayer and praise.  Bring Him with you during the day and have an ongoing conversation with Him.  Have your actions line up with your intentions.  In other words treat everyone the way you would like Jesus to treat you.  If you want mercy, then extend mercy, if you want love, then extend love.  Whatever we sow, we reap.  Honor those people in your family and at your workplace.  Repay evil with good.  God sees this and says have you seen my daughter running her race.  There is no obstacle too big for you and God to overcome.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer ran a magnificent race.  He was born of German aristocracy and a number of his relatives were in the ministry.  Bonhoeffer could have stayed in America during World War II, but he went back to Germany believing it was necessary for him to go through the war with his people in order to be there after the war to reestablish the church.  He and his new bride were arrested and both ended up being killed by the Nazis.  The German soldiers admired the way Bonhoeffer conducted himself during the imprisonment and the way he marched to his death.  Bonhoeffer ran his race and finished strong.

Let that be said of us, that we ran our race and finished strong.  You know we are not our own, we have been bought with a price, the very life of God’s only begotten son, Jesus.  Let us therefore encourage ourselves and those around us to seek God early in the day and seek to run the race He has chosen for us in the manner He has chosen for us to run it.  Let us lay aside those weights which hinder us those parasitic sins.  Let us remember God is Jehovah- Nissi, God is our Banner or victory and follow Him with reckless abandon.  Not seeking to fulfill our momentary pleasures, but rather to fulfill those things that are eternal.  Let us look for other runners who may be weary and encourage them to greater days.  Each one of us has our own race and if we do not quit, then we win our race and Jesus says, “well done my good and faithful servant.”