Thought for December 3, 2024

•  1586: Thomas Herriot introduces potatoes to England from Columbia
• 1736: Anders Celsius confirms Newton's theory that the earth is ellipsoid, not a sphere
• 1847: Frederick Douglas publishes the first edition of his newspaper, "North Star"
• 1910: Neon lights first publicly displayed [Paris]
• 1931: Alka Seltzer goes on sale
• 1950: Paul Harvey begins his national radio broadcast
• 1956: Wilt Chamberlain plays his first college game--52 points, 31 rebounds
• 1967: First human heart transplant by Dr. Christian Barnard in South Africa
• 1989: President Bush and Gorbachev announce end to Cold War
• 2017: First pizza party in space at the International Space Station
• Born: Rowland Hill [first adhesive postage stamp], George McClellan [Union Army General], Charles Pillsbury, Joseph Conrad, Andy Williams, Bobby Allison, Ozzy Osbourne, Julianne Moore
• Died: Robert Louis Stevenson, Mary Baker Eddy [Christian Science], Renoir, Walter Knott [Knott's Berry Farm], Hossmein Soodmand

Never heard of Hossmein Soodmand. A Christian martyr hung in Iran for refusing to deny Christ on this day in 1990. At age 7, he threw a rock at a Christian woman breaking her water jug. Running away, he fell and hurt himself. The woman cleaned his wounds and gave him a treat--he never forgot. Later, he became seriously ill while serving in the army. An Armenian Christian prayed over him, he dreamed of Jesus and woke healed. He sought a Christian church and professed his faith. During the Islamic Revolution he conducted a church in his basement. Arrested he refused to renounce Christ and was hung. 

Thought:

Some people love to run. Running makes them feel good. I don't like to run and now have difficulty running. Today, I am reading a passage about running--1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

What does Paul say about running?

• Everyone is running the race of life. [9:24] We are born and the race begins. If that is all that happens, we are running without any eternal purpose. Our goals are all temporal and all will ultimately be worthless. Winning the human race results in death and we cannot take anything with us. That does not seem like a winning race or a worthy goal.
• Run for the right prize. [9:24] Winning a race where the prize is death is not a good idea. Running a race where the price is eternal glory is a good idea. Have you ever stopped to examine your life, your habits, your attitudes to see if they are pursuing the right prize? Does the way I spend my time and money indicate I am seeking the right prize? 
• Run for the right prize in the right way. [9:24] In life we see some people seeking a prize and willing to do anything to get it. Recall Rosie Ruiz--she appeared to win the marathon one year, only to find that she rode the bus part of the way. Recall the steroid scandal in baseball. Seeking the prize the wrong way. Or maybe Enron comes to mind. Running an appearing to win only to be disqualified for violating the rules is not the way to get the prize. Same with our Christian race. I can give all the appearance of running the right race--attend church, say the right things, support the right causes---but if my heart is not running the right race in the right way, I am doomed to failure. 
• What is the right way to run?
• With self-control. [9:25] Well really with Spirit control. Galatians calls self-control one of the fruits of the Spirit. Here Paul is talking about controlling our appetites, acting responsibly. 
• Have the right goal or aim. We all have the ultimate goal of being with Jesus. But every day, we must have some goals to get to our ultimate goal. Today, I want to glorify God in my words, my actions, my thoughts. I have to start over every day, seek forgiveness for yesterday and press on toward the goal of my calling in Christ. 
• Stop shadow boxing. [9:26] Stop going through the motions, appearing to be running. My coach used to tell me he had to line me up with a fence post to make sure I was moving. This makes me question how much of my life is going through the motions.
• Make your body your slave--don't allow the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh or pride of life to get into control. Paul would say, I am crucified with Christ. 

Today we will all run a leg of the race of life. Am I seeking the right prize? Am I running according to the Master's rules? Am I just going through the motions? Tonight, when I look back at my day, will I have been on course, will I have made any progress toward my goal? 

Blessings

Larry