Running The Race…Helping Those Along The Way

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed" (Heb. 12:12-13).

The Message translation says it this way, "So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!"

In 2 Timothy 4:7 (MSG), it says, "This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way."  Living for God is the ONLY way to go. Running a marathon race is not easy...it takes lots of training and exercise in order to win.  Life is a lot like that...God has provided us "training and exercise" to win this race we run.  His Word - gives us guidelines to live by.  Our Pastor - teaches us, building up our "spiritual muscles".  We exercise what we learn through prayer, fasting & worship.   In 1 Corinthians 9:24b (MSG), it says, "You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win."  As whole, one body spiritually speaking, we must run to win this race!

Also, as we run this race, there will be fellow runners along the way that may struggle.  It is our responsibility to show them the love and care they need to help win the race.  We can do this in various ways.  We can show our love and support by the encouraging words we say and the helpful things we do for them. And, we can pray for them.  Whether it be a simple little prayer or a deep intercessory prayer, there is power in prayer when we pray in Jesus name.  As it says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  The word saved in this verse does not only refer to salvation or our souls, but also to deliverance, preservation, healing and restoring.  So do not ever think that the prayer you pray is not effective.  When we pray in JESUS name, there is saving power that sends those prayers from the “outbox” to the “inbox” of the those we pray for.

Lord, today, help us not be too busy running this race that we do not see those that need help along the way.  Help us to be your hands and your feet today!  In Jesus name, Amen – So be it!