"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24
Think back to a time in your life when you had to endure pain, problems, and pure exhaustion in order to achieve some goal. Did you love the entire process? Probably not. But you were willing to go through with it because you were motivated by the prize at the end. In the same way, the Apostle Paul reminds believers that their Christian walk must keep the end goal in view. Since we know that we will stand before God and give an account for what we've done, we must "run our race" in such a way that we are striving for the prize. Too often, a lack of fear of the Lord has led believers to the wrong assumption that their eternity is secure based on what they say they believe. Yet, our Lord and Savior Himself talked often about the requirement to do the Father's will, to stay vigilant and ready for the return of the Son, and to care for the least of these as clear marks of true disciples. When the Church is spiritually asleep waiting for Jesus to come and wake us and take us home, we've forgotten about the race we must run. This week at Friendship, we'll begin our new sermon series WORKS BOTH WAYS, based on Philippians 2:12-13, with a message called "Let's Work Out". We are commanded to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, as a response to the work God has done and continues to do in us. We only work out what He is working in us by His Holy Spirit. And knowing how He is working in us, we must continue striving and persevering toward that prize. Join us for encouragement, motivation, and truth for your daily walk with Christ!
