GRACE TO RACEHebrew 12

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Life is a journey and the journey of life requires race to get to the end of the mark; the expected end. The race of life is not about how fast you get to the end mark, but it is all about getting through to the end of the race. Ecclesiastes 9:11 put it better, ÒThe race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor the bread to the wise, nor the riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.Ó  There is no clearer way to picture what the race can be compared to than Ecclesiastes 9:11. The race of life is not about how long you have been running it, but rather it is about how well you have been running it. The race of life is not about how often you have fallen and were able to get back on track instead of getting out of track. The race of life is not about what the weather will do to affect your going, but it is about how you are weathering through. It is absolutely certain that so many are in the race, but not all will get to the end of the race accordingly. That is not all will receive the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24, ÒDo you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.Ó How are you running the race? It is important to know that keeping track of how you are running will keep you focus from crossing off track in the race of life because some are running, but they are running off the track. 1 Corinthians 9:25, ÒAnd everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.Ó Running off the track will no doubt win a perishable crown, but running by exercising restraint will bring forth the winning of an imperishable crown. This race that we are running requires endurance; not energy. Neither does it require strength but rather the Spirit of God.  Continuity is the rule of the race while a purposeful heart is the official of the race. An advice about running the race is written in Hebrew 12:1, ÒTherefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.Ó The race is a war that has to be fought every day by the grace of our Lord and Savior. As you run, are you taking time out to check if you are still on track in the race of life? It is a serious matter because the Apostle Paul made us to see clearly that it is a war when he said in 2 Timothy 4:7, ÒI have fought the good fight, I have finish the race, I have kept the faith.Ó What will you say about how you have run the race when it is the time to cross over the line for prize? Ask for grace to run the race.

NO LIMITATIONGenesis 1:14< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

If you do not love the Lord, you cannot serve Him and if cannot serve Him, you cannot love Him. Deuteronomy 6:5, ÒYou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.Ó Do you love Him? Are you serving Him? How you serve Him does matter regardless of how much you consider the depth of your service. Serving Him is loving Him and loving Him is serving Him. The standard that is required by our jealous God is to serve and love Him with our entire all. God sees our heart and He does know our limitation. If you are blessed with the strength and ability to stand in your time of worship and you chose to take a seat in your worship, no man can judge you, but remember that He is a jealous God. In every area of worshipping Him, give it all to Him and He will acknowledge your worship. The Bible points out in Hebrews 11:21, ÒBy faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.Ó The old man Jacob, even at His dying age, gave it all and he did not reduce His God nor limit the power of His might. He was at a dying age, but he could not let age affect his worship of the Almighty God. So many come to worship with full strength in them, but they cannot do better but then to sit instead of rather standing and raising up hands in worship to God. Where do you stand? Jacob was at a dying age yet he found a means to lift himself up before Lord. You are not at a dying age, but you have found a way not to lift yourself up before God in your worship to the Name of God. While there are some older bodies that stand continually worshiping God, what is it that is holding able body, young and vibrant men and women who are far from dying age to come and sit in the presence of God worshiping? Will you begin to cultivate a habit of taking a full stand, by the grace of God, to worship God? The details of JacobÕs last account of leaning on his staff to worship can be connected in Genesis 49:33, ÒAnd when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.Ó With this account, it can be concluded that after all the worshipping and blessing, Jacob went to sleep in the Lord. It is for our learning because documentation in the Bible is for us to learn so that we can begin to live by it for the glory of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, ÒAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.Ó Belief is learning and living by the Word of God.

THROUGH IT ALL

Genesis 48:1-14< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

ÒThen they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, ÒDo not fear; you will have this son also.Ó 18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).Ó (Genesis 35:16-19) Before Laban, the father of both Leah and Rachel, plugged Leah, the sister of Rachel, onto Jacob, Rachel was the actual woman that Jacob initially wanted as a wife. Rachel was the favorite of Jacob; she was the mother of Joseph, the most beloved of all the children of Jacob. Joseph was sold to slavery and later framed by brothers as if wild animals devoured him. It was pain and agony to Jacob thinking and accepting there would be no way of seeing Joseph again. Life can indeed be difficult and challenging and everything can seem to be impossible, but Òwith God all things are possible.Ó (Matthew 19:26) JacobÕs most beloved wife died a painful death and now Joseph, the most beloved among all his children, is assumed to be dead from wild animals. Jacob was a first hand witness to how life is full of ups and downs. Have you lost anything or anyone so dear and you have thought there is no hope? It is important that we be careful of negative confession. In the midst of all kinds of agonizing challenges in our way, we can always and it is better to be confessing: ÒIt is wellÓ. Jacob thought it was over until he was able to see Joseph. He then testified, ÒAnd Israel said to Joseph, ÒI had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!Ó (Genesis 48:11) Have you been giving up to all that has been giving you up to pain, groaning, and mockery? It is not time for you to give up, but it is rather time for you not to give up because when there is life there is hope. Also, it is the wrong time to give up because the same God that answered in the name of Jacob has not given up in His business of doing well for His children. God is not a partial God, but a faithful and merciful God. Jacob did not just see Joseph, but he eventually saw Joseph and the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh). Again, if you will cast your entire care and burden on Him, He is able to see you through and He will never fail. Jacob saw through by seeing Joseph and you will also see-through in Jesus name.

FAVOR< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Esther 2:1-18

Favor is what makes the difference in every journey of life. Favor is not a fiction; it is not a fantasy; it is not a failure; is not a fraud; it is not fruitless; is not frustration. Above all, it is not fake; it is real and when God locates you with favor, you will become eternally and forever set for His glory. The exception from this is if you dislocate yourself from His favor. Favor is defined as: a grace, friendly or obligating act that is freely granted. In the Bible days, so many were located by the grace of God for favor and today God is still locating men for favor. A young lady in captivity, brought up by her uncle because her father and mother passed away while she was young, had a encounter with the favor of God and the story of her life was eternally and permanently lifted up for the glory of God. Esther was minding her business in her location. She was not soliciting for any position neither was she looking for a husband when heaven smiled on her because the current queen had made a wrong move that violated her position. The hour that Queen Vashti failed to honor the calling of King Ahasuerus was also the hour a new done was activated for Esther. It could be that somewhere some situation or a situation has triggered your favor, but there is a need for grace to continue to remain patient in location for you to enter into your season of favor. It happened to Esther and it could be that your miracle is on the way also. There was a need for a new queen after Queen Vashti had kicked her position by disobeying King Ahasuerus. The king made a decree that would bring forth a new queen and a new queen had to be chosen from among many women. Esther was among the ones that were taken to the custodian of the women. Esther 2:9, ÒNow the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the kingÕs palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.Ó From the moment the grace of activated favor kicked into life for Esther, she had no need for begging for anything because she was getting all that she needed and all that was the best for her. Esther had no need for a godfather because the Father God was operating on her behalf. When the favor of God is in place, every need will become abundantly in place. What you never thought of to be a need will become available for you. Favor is not a merit; it is God meeting up with you. Favor has no age barrier or any form of discrimination. The bottom line of it all is pray to God for His favor. He has in His power to give and to take. It is never too late for you to be favored because He is a faithful God.

WHAT A GUIDE?< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Acts 1:15-26

ÒMen and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.Ó  (Acts 1:16) After thousands of years from when Judas made himself available as a guide to those who arrested Jesus, so today many thousands and millions are still operating under the same canopy like that of Judas. Many are making themselves available despite all signs that are pointing to the coming back of Jesus. Many are the ones that actually claim to be following Him. It is amazing how the past records of events could not open the eyes of men to learn and not to allow ugly reoccurrence. The Bible declares concerning Judas, ÒFor he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.Ó (Acts1:17) Many are numbered and have obtained a part in the ministration of the word of God, but yet they are consciously or unconsciously operating as a guide to those who are blaspheming and persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ today just as Judas did yesterday. It is important to know that the eyes of the Lord are not hidden from every act of all followers and non-followers and He will bring judgment at His appointed time. It is also important for us not just to number our days but also to maintain a constant elimination of every way of acting or operating as a guide to those who are arresting Him every day. Determination to not be a partaker of those who are arresting His name daily will fail, but asking for the grace of God will prevail. Jesus once prayed for Simon (the man with great determination) when Satan wanted to pick on him, ÒBut I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.Ó (Luke 22:32) Satan is always looking for someone to devour, but by the prayer of Jesus, he failed in his attempt to sift Simon. It was the same Satan who located Judas and having located his availability, ÒThen Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.Ó(Luke 22:3) Judas could not maintain his number so he lost the privilege to be counted. There is going to be a counting day; a day of accountability and it will be permanently late for any readjustment because repentance would have become expired and impossible. It does not matter how long you have been in the race or how long you have been following Him. Neither does it matter the kind of title you have. It matters for you to constantly spend time at His feet for a divine covering that will make it impossible for Satan to recruit you as guide to arrest Jesus. It is never too late, when there is life and breath left in your being, to cease from every work of Satan and give it all up unto Jesus.