“Looking Unto Jesus”   For many years I aspired to be a world class runner.  I did all the research, read all the books and applied the training.  I was disciplined in my training, diet, sleep and habits.  I looked to many of the great runners of my time as inspiration: Steve Prefontaine (Oregon); Bob Kennedy (Indiana); Bill Rogers (Boston), to name just a few.  Although I set many personal records (Qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon), I never reached my goal as a runner.  But as a Christian, as a Christ follower, I look back on my competitive running days and realize there are spiritual applications to my life in Christ.  The Bible says, “…let us lay aside every weight…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…the joy set before Him endured…” (cf. Hebrews 12)  I am in this spiritual race through the new birth in Jesus Christ.  But it doesn’t stop there.  I am to get rid of anything that hinders my progress as a Christ follower.  I am to exercise the spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, reading God’s word, coming together with other believers to worship - applying God’s word to my life…etc..)   I look to Jesus (my Savior and Lord) as my Inspiration, my example to follow!  My reward - an eternity in Heaven with Jesus and ALL the redeemed!  Of all the things we may aspire to do, of all the people we may aspire to be like, the most important thing to be - is a Christian, a Christ follower.  By the very definition we are to be like Christ!  He is the one we are to pattern our life to!  “Let us RUN…looking to Jesus!”

inHISservice,

pastor rodney