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Hi Thomas,
Please allow me to share this in your forum.
Here is something that I read in our church bulletin and I thought it will be a good reminders and encouragment to us to be stay on track. As China now gears up to prepare for the coming olympics and all the athletes have put in much effort and practice no doubt and have only one aim on their minds: to win!
Paul shared the parallels between the games and the believer's race.He along with the author of Hebrews gives us the sevens laws for running the race.
1.RUN TO WIN
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25
2. OBSERVE STRICT DISCIPLINE
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training..I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified" 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
3.NO LOOKING BACK
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:13-14
4.GET CONSTANT ENCOURAGEMENT
"Therefore, since we are surounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us. run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,whof or the joy set before him endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
5.THROW OFF RESTRAINTS
"..Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" Hebrews 12:1
6.DISCOUNT PAIN
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However ,I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:22-24
7.DON'T LET UP UNTIL YOU CROSS THE LINE
"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight,I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day-and not only to me,but also to all who have longed for His appearing" 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Hope this will be an encourgement to all as it has been to me.God has been faithful to us, so let us stayed faithful. Amen.
God bless,
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