The Race is Not a Competition

There are many types of races: The 100-yard dash, one mile run, 5 mile race, and the marathon. In the Bible, Paul likened our life to a race, telling us to "run the race."

I was thinking this morning I how much I dislike it when someone infers that I am in a competition with them - especially when it comes to the giftings God has given us. This suggests that the Lord Himself - the One who has called us to work alongside of each other - has entered us into a competetive race against each other. Those who are of this mind set, and also work on a team with people of similiar gifts and strengths, will look around to see with whom he must compete, sizing everyone up against his own gift. And, a competition requires a different set of rules, standards and motivation in teamwork. It is similar to worldly standards, who often operate with cut throat I'll-run-over-you-if-you-don't-get-out-of-my-way-methods that is sure to be contentious and mean-spirited.

I have, in fact, removed myself from such teams. For jealousy, and the ambition to suceed, will always seek pre-eminence. I prefer to step down and give the competetive person my position rather than contend for any "rights" I think I may have.

I do not see this competetive method employed by Jesus Himself when he formed a team to work with. Neither do I believe Paul was suggesting to run such a race - a competition. Rather, we are running a race of endurance. In this race the finish line is the face of Jesus - and His delight - and not the goal of our next ambitious God-event. We sometimes lose sight of this as we seek to serve God.

A devoted worshiper runs the race and competes against no one, often running alone, with eyes upon the goal, undistracted by the crowd response of cheers - or jeers. This race is measured as successful by God's pleasure clearly defined upon the life of the worshiper - not by spiritual gifts, riches, powerful positions of influence, appointed offices in a ministry, or promotions.

The success of this race is the strength of endurance, a gift of God's grace upon our lives, all the way to the end - to the finish line. "He who endures to the end will be saved."

Let's run the race...to Jesus...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTNjM3UnX3I

At the Feet of Jesus

Have you ever wondered where you fit it, what your place is? I have, and often I feel out of place. My greatest joy has been the revelation of the Lord of where He has placed me: In His presence at the feet of Jesus in worship and intercession.

For quite sometime now I have been praying that the Lord would show me my place – my position – before His presence. One day as I was praying, the Lord showed me where he has positioned me – at His feet, just as the woman who worshiped him, anointing the feet of Jesus with the costly perfume, her tears, rubbing them with her hair. It is in this place that she had the most intimate position of connecting with Jesus. Even though Jesus may not have turned around to speak to her or even to acknowledge to those present in the room that she was there – He went right on relating to His disciples and teaching those present – the woman laid at his feet, worshiping Him. Jesus may have paused in his teaching and not only acknowledged her, appreciating her kind gesture, but would have made himself available for her to fulfill her desire – to anoint his feet - by perhaps gesturing without words and even sticking his feet out even more pronounced towards her so that she would have full access to His lower limbs.

As I considered this act of worship I remember how I used to rub the feet of my Mother every evening after her long day of work with soothing creams and oils. Sometimes I would offer to rub her neck. Often when I did this she was preoccupied with other busyness and she often was too busy to acknowledge me outloud, with the exception of a nod of appreciation. It didn't matter. My expression was kindness, and a show of appreciation for all her hard work.

Many came to Jesus and fell at his feet. They did it for a variety of reasons: some to beg for healing for themselves or a family member, a woman came to ask Jesus to place her sons on the right and left in His kingdom – clearly so she would have a higher position in heaven too. But very few recorded came just to worship him at his feet and give him thanks in return for his merciful acts of forgiveness and healing – such as this woman who anointed Jesus feet.

I see that though Jesus be surrounded by a myriad in His kingdom, all pressing in to touch Him, vying for His attention, He knows each one personally, intimately. To me it seems like I am just one in a throng of unnamed strangers – unknown to Jesus. In fact, not only does he know each one by name, He planned and created each one for the specific purpose he assigned them. When he passes by (like the song says “Savior, Savior, do not pass me by”), he not only knows me, but gives me that intimate look known only between me and Him. It is not a scan over the crowd, but a long deep look into my eyes of my Lover who chose me to be His Bride for the purpose of intimacy throughout eternity. Let it be Lord.

So though I feel often that Jesus is passing by me surrounded by the throngs, He has given me the position of coming to His feet to worship Him. There, in this place, He will meet me.

As Jesus replied to Martha, speaking of Mary, “She has chosen that good part, and it will not be taken from her.”

Down at Your feet O Lord
Is the most high place
In your presence Lord
I seek your face
I seek You face

There is no higher calling
No greater honor
Than to bow, and worship at Your feet
I’m amazed by Your splendor
Amazed at Your glory
Oh Lord
I live to worship You
Oh Lord
I live to worship You

This song remembers that offering poured out to Jesus at His feet by the woman who loved Jesus so much...Alabaster Jar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6_qFr4tOo

In the Waiting Room

It seems we're all waiting. We're waiting for something to happen, waiting to pass through, waiting for someone, waiting for something. Events must happen before this can happen, someone must do this before we can do that, and so forth.

Always waiting: waiting for the appointment, waiting for the doctor report, the final results, waiting for the doctors to confer, to concur. We're waiting for the phone call . . . waiting with hope, waiting with dread, waiting with worry, waiting in faith. Waiting.

Waiting is a fact of life. But how we wait is the important element. Our waiting posture communicates "God loves me" or "God has been waiting to hurt me. I deserve this." The scripture is clear on God's intentions, however: "I know the plans I have for you...plans for good, and not for evil." This amazing promise given to the Prophet Jeremiah came is the midst of God communicating judgment to a people who deserved judgment at the time. So, even if we feel we deserve judgment, the end result of God's plan for us is always good.

I believe our "waiting room" should be the Throne room, where we wait upon the Lord, where we meditate upon the truth of His word allowing faith and trust in Him to take precident over fear and doubt.

You may not be in a waiting room at this time. That means you are in a good place to prepare for the waiting room. In these times, it is good to take in the Word of God - memorize it! - so it saturated our hearts when we need to recall the promises of God.

How do we pass through adversity, troubles, trials, the painful seasons in the waiting room of life? By. . .

• Proclaiming the truth of the word of God
• Applying the word of God appropriately for our situation
• Seeking to know God and His ways intimately; being familiar with how He works
• Exercising our faith and trust in God through adversity, troubles, and painful seasons

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall walk and not be weary, they run and not faint."
God surely has a plan to renew us through His word and His presence in His waiting room. Come today, and let Him minister to you. . . while you wait.

Seek the Lord!

There is a definite word being given to the worshipers of the Almighty God, to Jesus His Son: Seek the Lord while He may be found! It comes as an urgent plea of the Spirit of God to His church, Seek the Lord while He may be found. While it is true that the world has seen difficult days in the past, I think we all agree that what is yet to come will be days none of us could have ever anticipated, even that which we have read in Scripture. Seek the Lord while He may be found!

At present, we are enjoying a feast of the Word of God, in a variety of palatable forms: books, television stations dedicated to Christian broadcasting, internet websites covering every topic imaginable, etc. We will have no excuse for the time we have used to be sure.

The urgency of the Holy Spirit to seek God is not only because of dark days yet ahead. I believe Jesus has such a great desire to impart Himself in greater measures to us that He is calling us to draw near. This move near the Throne of God requires our action, a response to the Spirit of God who arranges opportunities for us to hear Him speak, listen to His Word revealed to our hearts, see Him as He is in His incredible glory. Learning to be sensitive to His quiet pleas and respond to Him immediately will facilitate a union of our heart to His, allowing us moments that satisfy the deepest part of us, because we are "in" His Presence. It is important to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who will direct us in our worship to Him, if we allow Him to. The result will be refreshing and will reveal facets of the character of God we never before imagined. Our time in His presence will certainly affect every part of our being as well.

The more I seek you, the more I find you...