LifeLink Devotions for Monday, August 19, 2024

Last Friday we began a discussion on the connection between theology and joy. Paul spends some time in His letter to the church at Philippi developing this subject because true intimacy with Jesus, which is the source of all joy, must be based on truth and not emotions or personal preferences. When we know the truth about Jesus, and apply His truth to our lives, we will find enduring joy.

Our second essential truth from Philippians 3 is found in verses thirteen and fourteen.

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Here’s the theological truth that produces joy: we can rejoice in knowing that we are running the right race, with heaven as the goal.

Paul compares life to a race. Races take training. They take discipline. Races require us to run in the right lane. And they always have a finish line. We may not have always been running the right race, but we can rejoice that now we are because of the awesome love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Our past races are irrelevant and meaningless, and only serve as reminders to run this race for Christ alone. Jesus has forgiven us for the past. He allows us to forget the past. He has restored us to relationship with Himself for all eternity. Running His race His way brings ultimate joy both as we run and at the finish line when we meet Him face to face.

In the book of Hebrews, we have a description of how to run the race successfully, knowing that others have done it and serve as witnesses to the joy that it brings.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

So today, choose to run the race of life with a new determination to reach the goal of eternal joy. Choose to stay on course for Jesus. Choose to run your race in your assigned lane where Jesus has placed you and equipped you for His service. Choose to train well by studying His Word and applying His truth to your life. Choose to be disciplined and not get distracted by immediate gratification and be disqualified from the race. And throw off all the weights of your past failures and shame and run your race in the light of God’s forgiveness. The joy you will experience is nothing compared to the joy that comes at the finish line.

Pastor John