September 2004 Devotional

Have you ever felt like a failure?  If not, you’d be mighty unusual.  Even when I’m not PMS-ing, I often feel like a loser, that I’m not measuring up, and that I’ve blown it one too many times for God to forgive.

But he still does.  Remarkably even after yet another day of crankiness, lost patience, snappy words that shouldn’t have been said, or weak, worthless feelings, God is there to dust me off, pick me up, give me a tender hug of encouragement, and tend to my wounds with a Holy Spirit bandage (So much better than a green Shrek one!).

And then he encourages me to press on.  But what are we pressing on to?  Good question.  Let’s explore that thought by seeking out scripture and a quick word study on the concept of “pressing on.” 

The Greek word for “press” is diōkō (pronounced “dee-oh’-koh), and it means to pursue with vigor.  The imagery is of a foot race (think Olympics) in which runners are competing for the finish line.

But in God’s “race,” Jesus has already obtained the prize for us (life forever with him in eternity -- so much better than 72 virgins!), and we just have to press on to receive it.  It’s ours because Christ has already won it, and now we cling to that sure and certain “hope” of receiving that prize one day.  And to keep us on track, God reminds us daily through his Holy Spirit that we can count on this promise being fulfilled.  (Read my lips:  “I have gone to prepare a place for you.  If it were not so, would I not have told you?”- John 14:1-4, paraphrased).

In light of these facts, there is no such thing as our “failure,” because we can never really lose!  If we “press on” and cross the finish line, we WILL win!  That’s a pretty remarkable gift, wouldn’t you say?   Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:12:

“Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” 

But we also want to run the race well.  Many have gone before us and many will follow, but we want our own personal race to be one of lasting importance.  I want my race to impact others, so they’ll want to run well too.  Paul says in Hebrews 12:1-2:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run the race with endurance, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

In order to run an effective, inspiring race, I must become a dedicated, disciplined runner.  I can’t keep hanging on to old sins or remain fat and lazy on the bench of life.  I need to throw off anything that is getting in the way of running well and keep my eyes focused on Jesus.  (Think right now – what might those extra weights be in your life that need to be thrown off?)  He’s the one who is going to ensure that I finish, and finish well.  It’s his Spirit that will fill me with the strength and ability to run excellently and not give up.  I must learn to rely on that Spirit and admit that my own tired one will never win any “golds.”

But here’s a lesson for us to grasp.  Jesus ran his race knowing it would be difficult and that he would often face great obstacles.  Hebrews 12:2 goes on to say that Jesus:

“who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

If we think that life is just going to be a cakewalk, we’re going to be severely disappointed.  Heck, even Jesus faced extreme difficulties (and despised them).  And he reminds us that “…you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.  But he who endures to the end will be saved.”  (Matthew 10:22).  That’s not an easy phrase to swallow, let alone live.  I feel for President Bush right now, as he is facing so much hatred from people – especially his fellow Americans.  Regardless of your political persuasion, you have to admit it takes courage to stick to your convictions when the opposition is so vocal.  And it must be hard not to feel like a failure when you are hated by so many.

We need to have that kind of perseverance when we run our race and remember that we are not failures when everything doesn’t go our way, or when we are antagonized by others.  We need to “fix our eyes” on the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ.  He alone can bring us to the finish line.

God has designed a race just for you, and just for me.  And he challenges us to run toward the prize that awaits us – a life of eternity with him in paradise.  We cannot fail with him.  And with that goal in mind, I can press on!

Love,

Lisa Kinakin