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| Today's QT - Running the Race |
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It makes no difference how loudly our friends applaud if God is displeased with us. “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13, niv), so it’s futile to try to hide. According to 1 John 1:5–10, once we start lying to others (v. 6), we’ll soon start lying to ourselves (v. 8); and the result will be trying to lie to God (v. 10). This leads to a gradual deterioration of character that brings collapse and shame. We seek to live a holy life, not to be recognized as “holy people,” but to please a holy God. We live before Him openly and sincerely, hiding nothing, fearing nothing.
For several years, I’ve had a plaque on the wall of my study containing this quotation from A. W. Tozer: “To know God is at once the easiest and the most difficult thing in the world.”
Knowing God and becoming more like Him is the easiest thing in the world because God is for us and gives us all the help we want as we seek to attain the goal. But it’s the hardest thing because almost everything within us and around us fights against us, and we have to exercise a holy determination to run the race and keep our eyes on the Lord (Heb. 12:1–3).
But it can be done; otherwise, God would never have said eight times in His Word, “Be holy, for I am holy!”
Consider: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1–2, niv).
Read: Hebrews 12
Action assignment: What in your life is fighting you to keep you from being more Christlike and knowing God better? What can you do about it? Talk it over with God. Determine to run a better race. |
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