Running Against The Horses

Wednesday, November 1, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Jeremiah 12:5 ►“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Memory verse: Philippians 4:8 ►Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Today's reading: JEREMIAH 24-26 TITUS 2

Running Against The Horses

Have you ever wondered how people endure life-threatening persecution on a daily basis? How spoiled are we? Are we ready for what may be real life here in the future?

In the U.S.A, the public as a whole, avoids pain at all costs. This was observed by an orthopaedic surgeon who worked the first part of his career in India where conditions are primitive compared to ours. He wrote:

“Patients, here in the U.S., lived at a greater comfort level than any I had previously treated, but they seemed far less equipped to handle suffering and far more traumatized by it.”

Our verse of the day:

Jeremiah 12:5 ►“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

In other words, If you are worn out by the weak teams, what happens when you play the really good ones?

Could you, as a Christian believer, go to the middle eastern world and 'compete with the horses' of persecution that their native folks have to deal with in everyday life?

How serious is our faith? How much has to happen for us to see that we are far too comfortable with our 'comforts'. What would we do to escape pain? Does the term 'at all costs' mean that we hold our tongues and would do or say anything to avoid being persecuted for our faith? Would we remain silent or even lie about our convictions?

If the 'foot race' of embarrassment has worn us out, what will happen if persecution becomes real like it is in Iran?

If this all alarms us, well, it is what it is-unless we get in front of God with our hearts and ask Him to show us the courage to run 'with the horses'. We must be ready to say as Paul said,

5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4

Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God(Ephesians 6: 10-18) and he means just that. Be ready-live in Christ Jesus. He will supply all our needs...(Philippians 4:19)

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I confess, I am far too comfortable and I do run from pain. Teach me, ready me for whatever the enemy has to throw at me.

Mighty God who provides all I need, In the name of my Lord Jesus,

Amen