How are you running the race set before you by God?

Dear friends, God is so good to us and His mercy is new every morning.

God is very interested that we live not just a victorious, but a fruitful life. However, it is impossible to live a fruitful life without first setting a proper life goal. That is why my question for you today is how are you running the race set before you by God?

“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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds”(Hebrew 12: 1-3).

There is a race set before every one of us to run. Many people call it the will of God or God’s assignment for you. No matter what you call it, it is important to understand that we are not just here to live an aimless life. Your life has a purpose. One reason we are given time is to discover God’s purpose for our lives and pursue that purpose, making use of every opportunity and resource given to us by God.

Jesus our Lord, model and teacher exemplified before us what it means to run the race of life when He said “I have come to do your will oh Lord”

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God…” (Hebrew 10: 5-9)

Jesus recognized that His life here on earth was for a purpose, and He committed His time and resources to do the will of God.

Just like Christ, we are called to lay aside every weight and every besetting sin that hinders us so that we can discover and run our race in life.

When you set the race of life before yourself, suddenly everything in life possesses meaning; even sufferings and trials will no longer have the power to impede you or stifle your potential.
You become more disciplined, time becomes more precious, and waste is eliminated at all levels.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesus 5: 15-18).

As you meditate on the above scriptures today, don’t forget to answer the following questions:

• Have I discovered the race set before me by God?
• How am I doing in running the race set before me?
• How are my day-to-day activities connected with God’s purpose for my life??

Remember, God has set a race before us to run, and we will all answer to Him one day for what we did with our life race.

May God continually strengthen you and guide you as you endeavor to please Him every day of your life.

See you next time!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye