Biblical Success - Running the Race of Our Lives - for Such a Time as ThisPrøve

As we compare our lives as Christ followers who are running a “race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1) with the challenges we might find in a literal race, we have the great example of our Lord who, while He walked on Earth as a man, ran His race as well and encountered all the temptations and challenges that we do (Heb.4:15). Our Lord was opposed by the most powerful political and religious systems of His day. He had no personal wealth or power but He did have the filling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) which we have available to us as well. 

Our world is being shaken as various forces and a pandemic have come upon it. Our Father promised that He would shake everything that can be shaken to show what cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-28). In this season of shaking we are experiencing testings and trials from within and without and are being challenged by our culture to stand against the winds that are blowing contrary to our God and our faith in this day.

Jesus came and stood against even stronger winds and He will empower and enable to do so as well. This part of the race will be different than we have known or practiced and He has left us His Spirit and His Word to guide us along the narrow path during these challenging times. We will look at six tips from His words to inspire us as we press on.  

First, we must walk our talk like never before. Our previous ways have not been good enough to face the winds that are blowing and those likely to come. Jesus warns against Hypocrisy the “Leaven of the Pharisees.” Hypocrisy is caused by attempting to live out of contrary value systems at the same time and is the primary accusation that is leveled against the contemporary church. The naysayers say “You don’t look any different from us. You want the same things we do and do the same things we do. The church is full of hypocrites.” 

What do you think about that? Are we living in a way that shows that we are different? How so? Explain your answer.