Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
Run, Don’t Walk!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).
As a child, I reminder being told to walk and not to run. Today, many of us use the expression, “I am going to run to the store.” In fact, we are going to get in our car and drive to the store and then walk in to shop. I see many more walkers than runners in my neighborhood. I prefer to walk than to run but sometimes in life we need to run. Running is great for exercise, but we should also “run” or move quickly for other reasons. Below are a few examples.
If God is asking you to do something, then move quickly to do it. The dishonest manager in Luke 16 is not a hero because of his dishonesty but because he looked ahead, made a wise plan, and acted
quickly. Rahab is not a hero because she is a prostitute but because she quickly hid the men sent by Joshua into Jericho after the king’s messengers knocked on her door and inquired about the spies (Joshua 2:3-4). Both of these people were flawed but were of great service to advancing God’s kingdom because they acted in faith and acted quickly.
Third, always be quick to keep your promises to God. “If you make a promise to God, keep your promise. Don’t be slow to do what you promised. God is not happy with fools. Give God what you promised to give him. It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Many of us are procrastinators, or we wait for the perfect time to do something. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:4, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”
When you are faced with temptation, run. 2 Timothy 22 teaches, “Run from temptations that capture young people.” Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce a young, handsome Joseph, but he resisted. Genesis 39:12 tells us, “… he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”
You should move quickly to accept God’s salvation. God has offered you salvation, and today is the day to accept it. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Right now God is ready to welcome you. Today he is ready to save you.” How do you accept salvation? You turn away from yourself and toward God. You trust Christ to come into your life, forgive your sins, and make you who He wants you to be.
If you see an opportunity to do something good for someone else, do it immediately. God will put people in your life with needs. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” John Wesley said, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for always welcoming us as we run to you. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
Getting To The Heart Of The Issue
Getting To The Heart Of The Issue Over the years, I have spoken with many Christians and enjoyed having the opportunity to hear their testimony. Some are “intellectual Christians,” so to speak, and believe that science has proved the existence of Christ and therefore they also believe. Many have provided me with compelling arguments for their Christian faith. I also believe in Jesus and in science. However, at the heart of the issue is our heart. Do you believe in Him in your heart and seek him with your whole heart? Jesus taught us in Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God... -
Finding Clarity in a World of Confusion
Finding Clarity in a World of Confusion “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 NLT). I think many of dislike to be in “limbo.” We want to know where we stand. We seek clarity. Perhaps at no time is this greater than in times of adversity. It is in these times, that we face the proverbial fork in the road. Pursue clarity from the secular world or obtain clarity from God’s word. If you pursue clarity from the secular world, you will never find it. However, God provides us clarity... -
The Importance of Christian Study
The Importance of Christian Study "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). For many of us the thought of studying brings back memories of cramming for exams in high school or college. Many men would rather engage in Christian action rather than Christian study. Through action we can see the fruits of our labor and be the Body of Christ in our neighborhood and beyond. Our goal as Christians should be to develop an intimate relationship with God. There are many paths in which God can reveal Himself to us: prayer,...