26th March 2017 - Mothers Day – Run Your Race 17 – Catrina Benham

26^th March 2017

Mothers Day – Run Your Race 17 – Catrina Benham

Bible Verse: Hebrew 12 v 1 – 3

Introduction

When we say we are making a decision or struggling people often say ‘just take the next step’, ‘put one step in front of the other’…etc. We need these tips along the journey of life, however we need to look to the bible for our life tips.

The bible has loads of practical tips for life. Our faith is in a real God, who has real answers.

Life is a journey that we go on. We start somewhere and go somewhere. But it can also be explained as a race.

The bible talks about us all being on our own track and Jesus supporting us. Our life race is not about speed or being first. It is about endurance and focusing on God.

Life is not a tarmacked road that is smooth. There are changing seasons in our life. There are twists and turns. In real life there are obstacles and we need to get over that. Hence real life is more like a heptathlon: running, shotput, 800m etc… a  multi event competition.

Hebrews 12 v 1 – 3

Hebrews explains that we will feel weary in life and we will lose heart, at times.  In this long race called life,  however, God also says that we need to take encouragement from others that have done it before, and we need to look to Jesus about how we run the race.

The phrase ‘Therefore’, shows that people have gone before us. In Hebrews 11 heaps of people were commended for their faith. This continues into Hebrews 12 where it discusses about being ‘surrounded by cloud of witnesses’ like a cloud, high, deep, wide.  There is a packed stadium, people in the stacked terraces: believers everywhere cheering us all on. They are saying I’ve done it and you can do it too.

The witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 11 include Ruth and the Woman of Proverbs 31. They went through trials and we need to look at how they ran their race, not what they did.

How they Run not what they Did.

Ruth: She went from Bethlehem to another country, due to famine. Once there, the men of the family died leaving three widows. She stayed with Naomi. From her first marriage she had no children, was a Moabite, poor and that was not attractive in society. However her reputation was that she was a women of noble character. People knew about her. She was a women of valour, brave and strong. She ran her race with determination. God had a plan and she endured: Ruth is part of Josephs line of genealogy, and after the death of her first husband she married again and has children.

Chayil – nobel character, strong, excellent, valiant, brave.

Proverbs 31: The woman discussed in this proverb provides food, works in the night, plants for the future, her trading is profitable. This is not a task list it is a song celebrating all women. It is not a job description. It describes all women.

 

 

Choose to Run

Don’t give up, don’t stop, don’t wish for someone else’s life, move through life with God. Our lives should be about moving through life in ways that can glorify God rather than what we look like or achieve. When we trust Him, we will accomplish. There is not just one winner. We can all win and cheer each other on.

You can do it – they have. We are running in community.

What is hindering your running?

Throw it off. The baggage we carry hinders our faith. We pick up things such as fear, anxiety, ambitions, distractions, care of what others think: these are distractions. Know what hinders you and throw them off. Comparison hinders us. Don’t keep looking to the left, right or behind. We can’t look at others and run our own race – we will crash. Such comparisons rob us of joy.

Sin also entangles. Throw it off.

Don’t run through life with your head down. Don’t march life out – enjoy the scenery, enjoy the time. Keep your head up, eyes up, look to Jesus.

The ultimate on how to do ‘life’ is to fix your eyes on Jesus. The pioneer and perfector of our faith. Put your attention onto Jesus, look and listen to him. He gives us our faith. He completes and finishes our faith. He is around us as we run and is ahead of us as we run.

What is getting you through life? Is it Jesus.

Pray, listen to worship and read the bible, along with some calm breathing. This will get you through the day. We need to remind ourselves on who we should fix our eyes on.

God is our ultimate coach.

Questions:

• How is your unique race going?
• Discuss what you each need to throw off, what baggage are you carrying?
• Does everyone else around you look as they are doing better? How does it make you feel?
• Are you in a place you haven’t been before? Share with your group what new things are crossing your path? Pray for each other..
• Is your head down one foot in front of the other? Or are you distracted by hindrances? How will you refocus on Jesus?
• Do you need to change your race? Are you running in the wrong direction?
• Where do you go for help? Friends, family or God?
• Why don’t you all share an example of overcoming something in your own race - celebrate with those in your group