“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,
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.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Heb 12:1-4, 15.
When a manufacture produces a product, he sets a purpose that he intends the product
to accomplish. The success or otherwise of that product is measured by the extent to
which that product accomplishes that original intention of the manufacturer. Similarly,
God that created you has something in mind before you were born. That thing is called
God’s will or purpose for your life. It can also be defined as His destiny for you. In our
text it is called the race set before you. “For we are His workmanship [His own master
work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed,
renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand
[taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He
prearranged and made ready for us].” Eph.2:10 AMP.
Take note that it is God that set the race before you. Many people are running a race
they set for themselves or others, society or circumstances set for them. It is important
to know that no matter how ‘successful’ you are running a race God has not set for you,
you will be considered a failure in the sight of God because you will be assessed based
on your performance on the race He set for you. This can be likened to a student that
went into an examination and instead of answering the question set for him he
answered a different question that was not set for him. No matter how well he
answered the wrong question he will still fail that examination.
The implication of what we have said so far is that the most important discovery in your
life is to discover why you were born or the race that God has set before you.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Anything you do not feed will ultimately die. Stop feeding your lust and you will crucify the flesh.
Similarly, whatever you continually feed will thrive. Feed your spirit everyday and all the time.