RUNNING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Cor. 9:24 NKJV).

Here, the apostle Paul is comparing the Christian life to running. With running being a popular form of recreation these days, the comparison will be readily understood especially by runners. This verse reminds us that running requires persistency, perspiration, purpose, and precepts.

Running requires persistency – The idea here is about running to win a race. If we are going to win, then we must run the whole race. We cannot quit part way through the race. We must be faithful and run the entire course. Today, there are too many quitters in Christian service. When things get tough, they quit. To have a winning performance, we must be faithful. We cannot be quitters.

Running requires perspiration - Running is not easy and will cause one to perspire. It is much easier to walk. In a race one may face challenges. This will result in the body not only perspiring, but also tired and sore. Having a winning performance in life is not going the path of least resistance. It requires earnest effort.

Running requires purpose – Here the apostle Paul is exhorting believers to run to obtain the prize, i.e., run your best. In the Christian life, many folks merely go through the motions, doing just enough to get by. This is not running for the prize. We need to endeavor to do our best in the Christian life. We need to run for the prize.

Running requires precepts - A runner must abide by the rules if he is to have a winning performance. Those who cheat will not be given any awards. In our society today, sometimes cheaters seem to be getting all the awards and recognition. But God’s rewards will never go to cheaters. God sees how we run. Therefore, we need to run according to God’s rules if we want to have a winning performance in His sight.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh!”

Oswald Chambers (1874 - 1917)

Scottish Evangelical Bible Teacher and Military Chaplain    

Word Study

Filled

In Matt. 5:6 we read, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (NKJV).

“Filled” is the Greek word chortázō (χορτάζω = khor-tad'-zo). It means to be filled to satisfaction, eat one’s fill. Chortázō was used of the feeding of animals until they wanted nothing more. It conveys the idea of complete and abundant satisfaction. In classical Greek, chortázō was used in reference to feeding or fattening animals. In the Septuagint chortázō was also used in reference to being satisfied or full. In the New Testament chortázō occurs both literally and figuratively and is used with reference to people and animals as being filled. Here in Matthew 5, chortázō is used figuratively by the Lord Jesus to refer to experiencing inward satisfaction, being fully satisfied or being content with some object or state.

Did You Know…

When the Israelites moved camp special instructions were given for the Ark of the Covenant – Aaron and his sons were to cover it with the veil (Num. 4:5).

Bible Quiz

How many years did king Nebuchadnezzar live in the fields away from his palace and people?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

How did the shepherds find the baby Jesus? The shepherds were told by the angels: “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12)

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The humiliation and exaltation of the Lord Jesus prefigured (Psalm 8:5-6; cf. Heb.  2:5-9)

"For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet” (Psalm 8:5-6 NJKV).

When God created man, He said that man was to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28). The Lord crowned Adam and Eve and gave them dominion over the other creatures. This means that we were made to be co-regents of creation with the Lord, unlike the angels who are servants (cf. Heb. 1:14). God the Father created us to be kings, but the disobedience of our first parents robbed us of that dominion. But then God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth and has regained the dominion for us and will one day share it with us when He reigns in His kingdom (Heb. 2:6-8). By quoting this text, the author of Hebrews is showing the humanity and the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ in coming to earth to be our Redeemer and Savior. When we crown Jesus Christ Lord of our lives, we become sovereigns and not slaves, victors and not victims.

Did You Know – Christian History

Johann Gerhard Oncken was born January 26, 1800, in Varel, Germany. He was a pioneer German Baptist preacher, variously referred to as the “Father of Continental Baptists,” the “Father of German Baptists” and the “Apostle of European Baptists.”

At fourteen, Oncken sailed on a Scottish ship to England, where he was converted to Christianity. Oncken joined a Congregational church but thought of his homeland where many of Germany’s state Lutheran churches were stagnant. When the Continental Society was formed to bring evangelical faith to Europe, Oncken volunteered as a missionary. In 1823, Oncken began work in Bremen and Hamburg. The established church was furious at his success and tried to squash his work, but God cannot be defeated. Oncken persisted. Studying the scripture, he became convinced that only adult believers should be baptized. He asked that someone be sent from England or Scotland to baptize him and a handful of like-minded believers. He had to wait five years. Then in 1834 Oncken, his wife and five others were baptized in the Elbe River which was performed at night. The next day, the first Baptist church was formed in Hamburg, with Oncken as pastor. The church quickly grew to 68 members by 1836, but after that year persecution temporarily halted its growth. Though the Baptists initially engaged in performing baptisms at night, in 1837 Oncken began to baptize openly.

In general, Baptists were despised by most Germans because of an incident in the City of Munster in the 16^th Century. Further, German authorities shared the traditional opposition to rebaptism and felt that people being dipped in the river was an offence to public morals. And while the authorities gave the Baptists peace for a while because of the help they gave to the people of the City of Hamburg after the fire of 1842, the harassment and opposition continued. But in spite of the opposition, Oncken and two other helpers led the Baptists to success after success. Their numbers grew at an extraordinary rate. Oncken was thrown into prison. Everything he owned was taken to pay fines. Other Baptists were treated just as badly. Even protests by England and the United States could not stop the persecution. Still the church grew. It sent missionaries to Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Switzerland. As in Germany, the Russian churches proved indestructible. Baptists in all these nations look back to one man as their forefather: John Oncken. By 1878, Oncken was growing physically weaker daily. He resigned as agent for the various tract and Bible societies that he was serving, but continued to pastor. The Scottish Bible Society gave him a pension. Late in 1879, Oncken suffered a stroke. His physical condition compelled him to retire in 1881. He moved to Zurich where he died peacefully on January 2, 1884.

A Little Humor

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Christmas reminds us that God specializes in starting new things in ordinary lives!”