Run The Right Way
Following Jesus is not meant to be an aimless journey, but one that is run in such a way that you receive the heavenly prize waiting for you.
“Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness...How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places...May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.” Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord"
Numbers 24:1, 4-7, 9-13
Balaam was told that he would be paid to curse the people of God. What did Balaam do? He blessed them. Why? Because it was what God told him to do. He chose to do what God told him to do rather than to focus on deepening his pocket book. How many of us have the same approach in our lives? Do we desire to do God's work regardless of the cost? Is there a price at which doing God's work is not worth it? Balaam was convinced that what mattered most was serving God.
How could what we learn from this passage change our approach to how we live? You will face tests to see what matters most to you. How will you respond to the test? Jesus modeled for us the perfect way to live which is centered in living for God. He taught us to make it our anthem as we pray the Lord's prayer and declare Lord, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven no matter the cost. There is a right way to live and that way is seeking first the kingdom of God that God's will would be done as we live to glorify His Holy Name.
“I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.”
Psalms 141:1-2, 8
David's prayer was that he would please God and keep his mind fixed on His perfect Father in Heaven. Do you ever ask yourself what would please God? Is it a mystery? Think about your own interactions with friends or family. You know how to bring joy to the people you know the best. Do you know what pleases God? The first step is to draw close to Him. Listen to His voice. Read His word and you will hear Him speak of justice, righteousness, and His kingdom of love.
David knew that if he took his eyes off the Father that it was easy to fail. He asks God for strength because he knows that sin separates us and separation from the source of life is death. How long can you fix your gaze on God without taking them off? In a world of distraction, devices, and all you have to do it can be difficult to fix your gaze on Jesus. How could you grow in this? Would you be willing to put your phone away and dedicate more time to dwelling with Him?
“Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?” Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.”
Ecclesiastes 8:2-4, 15-17
Paul says in Romans that if we declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that He was raised from the dead we will be saved. Do you believe? Is He Lord? If Jesus is Lord, then like Solomon wrote, we have an oath before God to obey King Jesus. Do we live as though His word is supreme or do we live as though it is conditional? Will we love others no matter how they act or will we condition how we serve, love, and give to others on their attitudes or actions?
Solomon gives clear direction. Stay close to God. Let Him be in charge of where you go and how you live. He says do not be in a hurry to leave the presence of the King. He is telling us to not go our own way. Don't run off! Run the race with the King, for the King, and in the direction the King says. Have you given Jesus full control? Are you willing to commit all your ways and all your days to Him?
“The one who sins is the one who will die...Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties. He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord...I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
Ezekiel 18:3-5, 7-14, 17, 19-23, 30-32
God is just and right. He is looking for disciples, followers, and devoted people who will do as He does. We live in a world and within a culture that often shares the message that each person should do what they want. How often have you heard that you deserve to be happy or you should do what you want to do? Are these messages from God? We have to learn to discern what is true and false.
God says there is a right way to live and that is according to His ways.
Imagine living your life according to the false belief that you should do whatever you want only to get to the end of your life and realize you ended up at the wrong destination. This is why it is so important to live our lives with the end in mind. What is God's vision for your life? Have you taken the time to cast vision? Where do you want to end up? The Bible says without vision people perish. Do you want the hope of heaven and the experience of heave here and now? Are you headed on the right path? Are there any areas of your life where God wants you to "repent" or turn to Him that He could lead you in the ways everlasting?
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
1 Corinthians 9:11-12, 14-15, 19-27
What do you think of the mindset of Paul and the challenge he issues? His mindset is come, connect, and lead to Christ. Come to people and meet them where they are. His mindset is not judgment rather it is just embrace how you can build a relationship. He says connect with them. Find your common ground not where you clash. Then he says connect them to Christ. There is something so freeing in the knowledge that it is the love of Christ that transforms others. We do not bear the weight of transformation rather we embrace the opportunity of invitation to know the One who loves each of us perfectly.
Paul issues a challenge. He calls you to train and do your best. Jesus had the same idea by inviting disciples and issuing the challenge to make disciples. The root word for disciple and discipline is the same. It involves learning, growing, and training to be like our Teacher, Savior, and King. Are you up for the challenge? Do you want to run with purpose? How can you improve the way you train and how you run by setting clear God size goals centered in doing God's will?
Are you willing to evaluate your life setting a course of living for God that leads to the kingdom of God coming to earth through you as walk towards heaven? There is a way to live that will lead you the right way to the Righteous One. Paul says run to win. Run like Jesus. Jesus said it is finished and won the prize of eternal salvation for all people. Mark Batterson has said trust like it depends on God and work like it depends on you. Do your best so that the first words you hear in heaven will be well done my good and faithful servant.