Victory Found

Victory Found

2 Timothy 4: ⁶ As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. ⁷ I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. ⁸ And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

 

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Looking for a “win”, I joined various groups, followed certain sports teams and even competed. Sometimes my team won, which made me feel better as a human for some reason, and sometimes my team lost. When I won a bowling trophy, I wanted another. After a while, I wanted more and more trophies and awards in life.

 

• I wanted to feel like I was getting ahead.
• I guess I just wanted to feel special for a moment.
• I wanted to have a bright shiny moment in my life that was sometimes filled with hurt, and pain.

 

Paul tells Timothy this is the end of his life. He mentions that he has participated in the greatest competition, namely the fight against evil. He also mentions that he is on the winning side and has a “victory prize” waiting for him in heaven.

 

My Observations

• Friendly human competitions are alright BUT GOD wants me to join the competition against the evil one.
• JESUS has already won the victory, so HE wants me to join the side that already won so I can receive my prize.
• GOD wants me to “wait with love’ until the Day JESUS returns.

 

Waiting on JESUS is hard, especially during times when it seems like evil is rampant. I mean, the world seems to have lost its mind! BUT GOD sees all the violence, hurt and pain. Instead of competing with one another HE wants something different.

 

Waiting with love is different than being nervous that my moment here on earth has not happened yet. It means I will keep showing love to those HE sends me to or who HE sends to me. It also means that even though life can be hard, GOD still wants me to join in on HIS victorious side and do my part with love. I gladly join GOD and know my victory has already happened.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer feels satisfied?
• Are you disappointed with your accomplishments?
• Instead of looking at your situation, will you love someone who GOD wants you to show love to and keep pressing forward in the “race” of life by seeking HIS Kingdom today?

Dedication

Dedication

2 Timothy 2: ³ Take your part in suffering, as a loyal soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ A soldier on active duty wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life. ⁵ An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules. ⁶ The farmer who has done the hard work should have the first share of the harvest. ⁷ Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will enable you to understand it all.

 

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Leaving the college track team was easy because they wanted me to run at five in the morning and then again at five in the evening! Leaving the company was easy because the environment was not what I wanted it to be! Leaving a volunteer group was easy because they wanted me to do everything! Leaving GOD was just as easy!

 

• I had become accustomed to quitting and leaving things that were hard.
• It was easy to quit and leave things if I “blamed” it.
• I did not want to face hard situations that had no benefit to “me.”

 

Paul gives some really hard words to swallow. “Take your part in suffering” was the advice he gave Timothy. He then gives three examples; a soldier, an athlete and a farmer. He probably used these examples because he was in jail guarded by soldiers who could not be moved or swayed by anything said to them. Athletes followed the rules and farmers did hard work!

 

My Observations

• Life is hard and GOD does not want me to give up on HIS ways.
• Life brings many trials and GOD wants me to be prepared to face them with HIM.
• Life can be unfair, tiring and sometimes disastrous and GOD wants me to remain dedicated to HIM.

 

Let’s face it, sometimes life really, really stinks! I mean, one moment things are going well, the next, things are not going so well. When trials hit, all I want to do is get out of the trial. It becomes hard to see GOD’s goodness in the middle of tribulation. BUT GOD wants me to look at life different.

 

HE wants me to have the mindset that life will definitely be difficult so I should expect it, like a soldier going to war. HE wants me to rain like an athlete and work as hard as a farmer, who seems to never find a moment’s rest. GOD does care and wants me prepared. I am glad HE changes my mind about life.

 

Challenge

• Why in the world is the writer talking about “suffering?”
• What are your expectations of GOD?
• Will you relook at life differently, knowing Satan is your enemy who wants to attack and destroy your relationship with GOD, so you can be strong and hold onto GOD’s ways in the middle of trials?

Train Like an Olympian

Train Like an Olympian

1 Corinthians 9: ²³ All this I do for the gospel's sake, in order to share in its blessings. ²⁴ Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. ²⁵ Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. ²⁶ That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches. ²⁷ I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest.

 

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“Practice is after school” the coach said. Having no idea what that meant, I was excited. “After you finish stretching, follow the leader in a two mile run.” I was exhausted when I finished, but glad that It was done. I was ready to go home when the coach said “That’s it for the warm up, now let’s get to the practice.” “You have got to be kidding me!” I thought to myself.

 

• There have been many things I have practiced for.
• There have been plays, sporting events and presentations I have practiced for.
• There have been many times that I have competed and sometimes I won the prize.

 

Paul compares spreading the Gospel to that of training for the Olympics. He mentions track runners and boxers in his comparison. He says “they submit to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last” But what crown will last?

 

• GOD wants me to treat my life as though I were practicing for the most difficult competition.
• GOD wants me to treat the Gospel as if it were an Olympic event.
• GOD wants me to treat my mind body and soul as an athlete does, with complete self-control.

 

Quite honestly I still get amazed at the timing of the scripture. I mean, the Olympics are going on right now and I get excited watching those who have spent their entire lives dedicated to discipline for a shot at winning the highest prize, a gold medal. But this prize will not last. The next Olympics will come and their name will be forgotten.

 

BUT GOD does not forget my name. When I stay in the race of life and dedicate it to spreading the Gospel, I win an eternal crown. GOD’s rewards are far greater than any I could ever imagine. I gladly train so I can finish the race and hear GOD say “Well done.”

 

• Do you admire people who win contests?
• Do you get excited when a person or a team wins?
• Will you put the same type of excitement into winning people for CHRIST today?

Compelled and Warned

Compelled and Warned

Acts 20: ²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

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Tired of living a lie, I took a deep breath and started telling people about my relationship with JESUS at work. I noticed a freedom I had not felt in years. I started telling “the” truth versus “a” truth. No longer could I settle for spinning bad news into some kind of positive myth.

Many people noticed and like hearing the truth. BUT the SPIRIT warned me there would be wealthy, powerful people who did not like the truth being told. HE prepared me to lose the job.

• There was a time when I had to say “no more of this.”
• There was a time when I had to stop cowering and pretending to live for GOD.
• There was a time when I had to choose who I really served.

Paul spoke to the elders of Ephesus after bypassing their city. He told them of the hardships he faced, speaking about JESUS. He said he was “compelled by the SPRIT” to go to Jerusalem where he would surely face imprisonment. Why would he do that? Because he had purpose.

• GOD wants me to give my life to HIM.
• GOD wants me to accept the task of testifying the good news of GOD’s grace.
• GOD wants me to complete the task the LORD JESUS has given me, namely to tell everyone about HIS death and resurrection to eternal life, saving anyone who believes in HIM.

When my life matters to me more than GOD, then I make fear filled decisions. I say “What if I get hurt?” or “What if I lose my job?” or “What if I am not liked?” GOD is not harsh, HE simply wants dedication to HIS SON who did so much for me that I cannot ever repay HIM.

My life is not “mine” it’s HIS. My family, business, home, friends, neighbors, job and stuff are all HIS. As much as I’d like to hold onto those things, they are HIS to take or expand. True freedom is being able to be led by the HOLY SPIRIT in spreading the news about JESUS. I am grateful GOD thinks enough of me to give me this task.

• Are you trying to hold onto something?
• Are your decisions based on fear?
• Will you allow GOD to guide you into letting go of what you are trying to hold onto; so HE can lead you to the true plan HE has for you, giving you abundant and eternal life today?

Finish Your Work

1 Chronicles 28: ¹⁹ “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

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Shoulders slumped and head held low, I was trying to get over the news that I didn’t get the top executive position.  I was waiting so long! I moped for days and finally the CEO of the company I interviewed for said “Get your head back in the game. You still have to work.” I did and I actually got a different position which took me on a wonderful adventure I would not have imagined.

• GOD knows my every desire, good and bad.
• GOD knows my every ambition.
• GOD knows what’s in my mind.

A tactic of the enemy is discouragement because the race is pretty long. It seems like the road will never end.  Just when there seems to be signs like the end is coming, it seems like more road is added. This causes me to fear the future. (Like I have the future figured out.) This fear and discouragement makes me question GOD’s plan.

• When I want results in my timing I get discouraged but when I wait on GOD it always works out.
• When I look at the future I get filled with fear but when I focus on today I can see GOD’s blessings.
• When I survey my abilities I feel inadequate but when I seek GOD’s strength nothing can stop me.

David was very clear when he said these words over and over to a very nervous son, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” He said this because the road would seem long sometimes and things would go wrong. Set back after set back will occur. GOD said “Keep going, I will not fail you or forsake you.”

• Are you feeling discouraged?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Are you questioning GOD’s vision HE gave you?
• Can you stop thinking about the future and focus on what GOD wants you to do today?
• Will you ask GOD for HIS strength instead of trying to do this on your own?

The marathon of life

2 Timothy 2: ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

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¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:

   If we died with him,

    we will also live with him;

¹² if we endure,

    we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

    he will also disown us;

¹³ if we are faithless,

    he remains faithful,

    for he cannot disown himself.

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Shivering, we huddled together as strangers to keep warm. When the National Anthem was sung, 45,000 of my best friends and me set off on our journey. Right around mile fourteen or fifteen I noticed a street leading to where the other runners were running back.

I thought to myself, “I wonder if they would notice if I just ducked down that street as my private shortcut. I mean, I’m not going to win the marathon anyway so who would it hurt?

• When I make my own rules in life I throw out the real rules.
• When I make my own rules then no one can win except me.
• When I make my own rules then I can adjust the rules for some and not for others.

GOD gave me a book to follow because I normally would not look at HIM or accept HIM. HE doesn’t want me to be a “rule” follower within my relationship with HIM, but HE does want me to treat HIS other humans with the love and compassion HE has for me.

HIS rules include things like “love others as I would love myself” and “treat others with higher respect than myself.” I’ve noticed me and many of my friends not following the latter of the two during political discussions.

In order to truly follow GOD I must endure, just like the marathon. No short cuts to loving others, I should just love them as they are. When I am faithless, GOD is faithful but HE cannot tolerate if I reject HIS SON or HIS SPIRIT HE wants to give me because of JESUS’ death.

• Are you trying to take shortcuts with your relationship with GOD?
• Is there someone who is difficult to love that you are not showing love to?
• Can you go the extra mile for the people who are hard to serve or love?
• Won’t you accept CHRIST and remain with HIM the rest of your life if you haven’t already?