
Larry Lilly’s Letter 7-30-12
Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;"
Dateline Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics: Hours behind the previous runner, the last marathoner entered Olympic stadium. Most of the spectators had gone home. The story of Tanzanian John Stephen Akwari was still being played out. Limping into the arena, Akwari grimaced with every step, his knee bleeding and bandaged from an earlier fall. His ragged appearance immediately caught the attention of the remaining crowd, who cheered him on to the finish line.
Why did he stay in the race? What made him endure his injuries to the end? When asked he replied, "My country did not send me 7,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it!"
We may be exhausted, limping, or wounded from an earlier fall. We may feel like there's no way we can run to the end. Witnesses are cheering us on...and God didn't send us this far to begin, He sent us to finish the race! So, let's get up! Brush off the dirt and run! He will give us the strength! Be certain you're on the right course, and finish. Checking out the conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21 will understand the importance of our truly bonding with our Great Shepherd.
Article is edited for space from George Riva. Full piece at Worthy brief
"Laying aside every weight" includes the build up of bitterness stored in our hearts and minds as a result of failure to forgive those who have hurt us along the way. Click Outrageous Forgiveness on the ribbon for more info/recommendations. Or you may click Outrageous Forgiveness In 30 Days for pricing and use credit card to purchace directly from the publisher.
Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;"
Dateline Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics: Hours behind the previous runner, the last marathoner entered Olympic stadium. Most of the spectators had gone home. The story of Tanzanian John Stephen Akwari was still being played out. Limping into the arena, Akwari grimaced with every step, his knee bleeding and bandaged from an earlier fall. His ragged appearance immediately caught the attention of the remaining crowd, who cheered him on to the finish line.
Why did he stay in the race? What made him endure his injuries to the end? When asked he replied, "My country did not send me 7,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it!"
We may be exhausted, limping, or wounded from an earlier fall. We may feel like there's no way we can run to the end. Witnesses are cheering us on...and God didn't send us this far to begin, He sent us to finish the race! So, let's get up! Brush off the dirt and run! He will give us the strength! Be certain you're on the right course, and finish. Checking out the conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21 will understand the importance of our truly bonding with our Great Shepherd.
Article is edited for space from George Riva. Full piece at Worthy brief
"Laying aside every weight" includes the build up of bitterness stored in our hearts and minds as a result of failure to forgive those who have hurt us along the way. Click Outrageous Forgiveness on the ribbon for more info/recommendations. Or you may click Outrageous Forgiveness In 30 Days for pricing and use credit card to purchace directly from the publisher.