MONDAY Hebrews 12:1-3
In Hebrews 10:24, the writer urged his readers to motivate (or “provoke”) one another to love and good works. In this passage, he did that himself. Using images from the Greek Olympic games, he urged believers to run the entire race set before them with determination, setting aside anything that hindered them and keeping their inner focus always on Jesus, who endured even the cross for our sake.
• Is it possible for even good activities to become so numerous and demanding in your life that you end up running your race in a distracted, scattered fashion? Faced with a calendar that can easily overflow with good things, how do you choose priorities and keep your life focused, rather than randomly overwhelmed even with good things?
TUESDAY Romans 5:1-5
In Romans 3 and 4, Paul wrote that no one earns enough merit to deserve eternal life with God (see Romans 3:23). God generously accepts everyone who trusts Jesus’ saving love (Romans 3:24). There’s wonder and glory in that, but in Rome then (and in Frederick County now) it also brings challenges. So in today’s passage, he shared his trust that, if placed in God’s hands, troubles produce endurance, endurance character, and character hope.
• Think through the progression Paul sketched. Reflect on how, in your own life or the lives of others close to you, you’ve seen each of these movements become reality:1) Trouble produces endurance 2) Endurance produces character 3) Character produces hope
WEDNESDAY James 1:2-13
James, the leader of the early church in Jerusalem, also encouraged believers to develop and practice the spiritual quality of endurance. It’s likely that James was Jesus’ half brother (see Matthew 13:55, 1 Corinthians 15:7). His experience leading the Christians in Jerusalem showed him first-hand that Jesus was serious when he said, “In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).
• James addressed a hurtful error (then and now) when he wrote, “No one who is tested should say, ‘God is tempting me!’” In a painful or difficult situation, have you ever asked, “Why is God doing this to me?” What makes it healthier to adopt James’ view—that when bad things happen in this broken world, God is with us to offer wisdom and strength to press on?
THURSDAY 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
As Paul wrote this passage, with one layer of Olympic wording upon another, verse 26 gave an intriguing insight into his outlook on the need for perseverance. Most of the Olympic words focused on running races—but here Paul added an image from the Olympic sport of boxing. He compared his spiritual training to a boxer toughening his body to receive his opponent’s blows in the ring, something mere shadowboxing would never accomplish.
• Dr. Craig Keener wrote, “Boxing was one of the major events at Greek games. Boxers wore leather gloves covering most of the forearm except the fingers, and theirs was a violent sport. Shadowboxing or ‘beating the air’ was insufficient training for a boxing competition; a boxer had to discipline his body better than that to win.” Are there areas of life in which it has felt (or feels) like a real “fight” to live as God wants you to, to break damaging thought or behavior patterns?What makes the “fight” worth it?
FRIDAY 2 Timothy 2:1-10
All this talk about training and persevering might discourage us if we began to think that it depends solely on our own mental and physical strength. But Paul reminded his young co-worker Timothy that, in the Christian race, we have a greater source of endurance than our own toughness: “draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” he wrote.
• In verses 3-6, Paul compared the Christian life to being a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. In what ways does each of those images point toward the kind of focused dedication and perseverance needed for following Christ? Which of the three images connects best with the “growing edge” in your Christian life right now?
SATURDAY 2 Timothy 4:1-8
As Paul wrote this letter, he was on the Roman equivalent of death row (verse 6), but was confident that his death would not stop the Christian faith from growing. He “passed the baton” to Timothy. He was sure that the day of his death would not be a day of defeat, but rather like a runner triumphantly reaching the end of a tough race. At the end of his life, he felt like a gold medal winner: “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. At last the champion’s wreath that is awarded for righteousness is waiting for me.”
• Pastor Gary Demarest wrote, “A delightful woman in our church recently competed in the New York City marathon. She had no illusions of winning over the 15,000 other runners, but you couldn’t help being warmed by her joy in finishing! Christian life and ministry is not a contest to run better than others. It’s a commitment to run all the way to the finish.” Paul finished his race. Verse 5, written to Timothy, speaks to us, too: “Keep control of yourself in all circumstances. Endure suffering … and carry out your service fully.” Will you? Evaluate (in your head, on your computer, or with paper and pencil) your journey so far, and what you aim for from now to the end. How will you go about finishing the race and, like Paul, running triumphantly into Jesus’ arms?