ICS Daily Devotions
He Knows What It Takes
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Luke 6:46 (NKJV) “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
One of the things that Jesus has asked us to do is to make sure that we lay a good and solid foundation. We are to make time for it, seek first the righteousness of God, and all these things will be added to us as well. Unfortunately, many of us are doing the reverse by seeking everything that the world provides, and whatever time is left, we give to the Lord, which may be 5-10 minutes a day in terms of our personal walk with the Lord where we pray, read the Bible, journal and act on what He is speaking to us daily. Eternal life is knowing God and not knowing of God!
The Christian life is like a marathon and the focus is on finishing the race. Just like the Apostle Paul who has fought the good fight of faith and has finished his race, we are each running our own race, but we are also spurring each other on to finish the race no matter how gruelling and strenuous it may seem at certain moments of our lives. Just like in a marathon, where there are spectators cheering us on to encourage us, right now, there is a great crowd in heaven—those who have run and finished the race —who is cheering for us to press on and not give up.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore 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, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Those who have completed the race know what it takes to finish it. Jesus went through all the different trials, tribulations, and temptations. He is our High Priest who understands our struggles and can empathize with us. Jesus is familiar with mental stress and physical suffering because He has experienced them while on earth. In fact, He was the first man who walked out God’s calling, separated Himself from the lure of the world and the temptation of Satan after having fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. He is the victorious one, and He has set an example for us. We are not alone in this race because He understands pain, the betrayal of man, the stress of life, the persecution of our faith and the various kinds of suffering in the world today.
Sermon Series: Resilience
