Apostle Paul

The Finish Line

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Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

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In the middle of this crisis the danger that we as Christians face is to long to go back to that what we considered normal rather than a longing to go forward into the new path that God is opening ahead.

A long time ago I used to be on our school’s track team. While I was never really very good I learned a few valuable tips about how to run a long distance race.

The first thing is to pace ourselves and conserve our strength for the final lap. In the Christian life we are also in a race and we must run with the finish line in our minds. As we are in the heat of this Covid-19 war maybe we should ask ourselves a simple question, “What is God wanting to change in my life and where might He be leading?” As Paul said; in order for us to run well we need to forget what lies behind us. If we are planning and strategizing how to get back to once was we will never be able to set our eyes on where God wants us to go.

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Secondly in order to pace ourselves properly we need to just run our own race. Everyone has a different way of running and we must not try to keep up with what other people are doing. Even though God calls all of us towards His heavenly goal, the way He has designed for each of us to run is unique. Just as Peter talked even when he didn’t know what to say, and Thomas wouldn’t take anyone else’s word for things so we are also all different, but together we form a team.

Last of all Paul encourages us to press towards the goal. The United States and the world at large will never be the same after this Corona virus fades into history. But God’s purpose of bringing men and women to His kingdom remains unchanged. If we waste all of our energy at trying to go back to what once was we will miss the opportunity to discover what might be. So like Paul, let’s keep our eyes fixed on the prize because the finish line is in sight!

Thank You Notes

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Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.       Ephesians 5:19-20 KJV

“Have you written a thank you note yet?” Mom inevitably asked every year right after Christmas. Talk about writer’s block: After I had penned a heartfelt “Thank you for the cap gun.” to my grandparents, I was completely out of ideas. But as word painfully followed word in those brief literary tomes, I slowly learned to be grateful for people who had loved me enough to send me a gift.

In Ephesians the Apostle Paul sounds a little like my mom. He wants to make sure that the Ephesian believers learn how to be thankful, to God and to express their gratitude by praise.“Great!” You might respond; “But I already do that in church.” Well, yes corporate worship is important; however thank you notes need to be written individually. If personal worship seems intimidating, Paul gives us three clues on how to begin. Just as my childhood thank you notes began with the basics, so praise can start with simply speaking to God with the familiar words of Psalms and hymns. That speaking can be like setting a tea pot on to boil. Little by little the temperature rises and bubbles begin to form. Those bubbles become songs that form in our hearts and begin to flow out in melodies towards God. But if you leave that tea pot on long enough you will begin hear a loud whistle. That is when our melodies  turn to joyful thanksgiving to God for all He has done and given us in Christ. That it is the very best thank you note of all!

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Heavyweight Champ

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.                   2 Timothy 4:7

In 1964 Muhammad Ali became the youngest challenger to ever win the heavyweight boxing title when he beat Sonny Liston. Every time Ali stepped into the ring he brashly proclaimed that he was the greatest. His bravado not only incensed his opponents but it had many in the crowd rooting against him. But other people’s opinions  didn’t worry Ali  He never even imagined losing. The only outcome he planned for was a knockout!

The apostle Paul was spiritually a heavy weight champion. He also entered the ring with only one goal in mind: the complete victory of His Lord Jesus Christ! Throughout Paul’s ministry he battled persecution, prison and a death sentence, and then ended his life a champion. But the bell that rang signaling the end of Paul’s match was the opening bell for Timothy.

Today the bell is ringing the opening round for you and me.  Centuries have passed and the world is a different place but just as Paul and Timothy fought their battles we must fight our own. When we brazenly trust Christ He will give us His strength to score a knockout over sin and death. He was the champion of the universe long before Paul was born and He fights by our side. He is the one and only who can truly say He is,  “The Greatest”. He is the all time heavyweight champion. He is the Lion of Judah and our Lord Jesus Christ!

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