The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, 20 November 2017 "Running the Race" by Megan Nagle (South Carolina) - 2 Timothy 3:10-15
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1 (NRSV))
I’m not a huge fan of running because I’m not very good at it. Every time I get on the treadmill, I think to myself, I just need to build up my endurance. Eventually I’ll run a mile in under ten minutes.
The Bible speaks a lot about endurance. Paul lists many trials that he endured, including being imprisoned, beaten with rods, and repeatedly exposed to death. (See 2 Cor. 11:16-33.) In today’s reading, Paul writes to Timothy, imploring him to come to his aid because everyone else had deserted him. Despite his suffering, Paul still addresses Timothy with words of encouragement.
Not all Christians face the extreme hardships that the apostles did, but our lives are still full of challenges. At times we are beset by deep losses and trials. By the grace of God we are able to withstand these hardships through the strength given to us by Jesus. While we endure for the sake of Christ, we also endure because of him. When facing struggles, we can remember Jesus Christ, who took on the cross for our sins. Then we can overcome the struggles and keep running the race set before us.
I’m not a huge fan of running because I’m not very good at it. Every time I get on the treadmill, I think to myself, I just need to build up my endurance. Eventually I’ll run a mile in under ten minutes.
The Bible speaks a lot about endurance. Paul lists many trials that he endured, including being imprisoned, beaten with rods, and repeatedly exposed to death. (See 2 Cor. 11:16-33.) In today’s reading, Paul writes to Timothy, imploring him to come to his aid because everyone else had deserted him. Despite his suffering, Paul still addresses Timothy with words of encouragement.
Not all Christians face the extreme hardships that the apostles did, but our lives are still full of challenges. At times we are beset by deep losses and trials. By the grace of God we are able to withstand these hardships through the strength given to us by Jesus. While we endure for the sake of Christ, we also endure because of him. When facing struggles, we can remember Jesus Christ, who took on the cross for our sins. Then we can overcome the struggles and keep running the race set before us.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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2 Timothy 3:10 But you, you have closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, trust, steadfastness, love and perseverance — 11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings that came my way in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 And indeed, all who want to live a godly life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.
14 But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; 15 and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yeshua the Messiah.
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Christ gives me strength to overcome obstacles.
Runners
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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