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get in the race August I’ll be in Asia visiting churches in Pusan, Beijing, and Ulaanbaatar. International travel is fast, easy and safe. Statistically, commercial air travel is safer than walking downtown. Everywhere I go—South Korea, Beijing, Mongolia—I’m blessed to have wonderful people waiting to welcome and escort me. Such was not the case for the apostle Paul. It took weeks to travel the 800 miles from Greece to Israel. And travel was dicey. Twice Paul was shipwrecked, several times he was imprisoned as an agitator, a couple of times he was whipped, once stoned. Yet Paul spent decades traveling the Mediterranean world, compelled, he said, by the Holy Spirit. He was compelled to, “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” What compels you? Paul challenged Christ-followers to live their lives compelled by the Holy Spirit. He challenges you to get in the race! The problem is that too many spend their lives on the sidelines … or in the bleachers. Jesus didn’t call His followers to watch, or even cheer. Christ-followers are called to get in the race! Christ’s followers are called to testify to God’s grace. They are called to peace—not comfort. They are promised eternal riches—not material wealth. They are ambassadors of Christ—not Christian consumers. Get in the race. Be a racer! Eternal rewards await racers—
07.25.2010 comment |
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