What and who are we surrounded by? It is important that we choose people who are committed to the race we are called to run, and who are able to encourage you, correct you, and hold you accountable to finish strong. We must choose those who have the experience and the wisdom to help us navigate through the pitfalls of life while keeping the promise before us. We also have to be careful not to carry the weight of people we have chosen to run with that could potentially lead us to sinful patterns of behavior. We have to constantly check our hearts, conversations, and any other weight that we have allowed to hinder us from running the race effectively.
Sin is the kryptonite of our spiritual endurance and it delays every plan that God has for our lives. If we are honest racism is one of the greatest sins of our day. Prejudice, biases and hatred are weights that keep the Body of Christ from running the race effectively. God desires to teach us discipline because discipline teaches us to keep our focus on God. What you refuse to reverence you will never respect.
The Christian race involves work. It takes work to not judge a person due to the color of their skin. It takes work to fix the broken systems of our nation, like the black income gap, social injustices, police brutality, and mass incarceration. It is impossible to run a race without discipline, teamwork and focus. We must strive to live a healthy and successful life and we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help us keep our gaze on Jesus, the One who saves. Here are some practical steps you can take today that will help you run with greater ease:
- Throw off of anything that you would consider to be a weight that prevents unity amongst the racial divide.
- Avoid any conversations or preconceived notions that keep the Body of Christ from gaining ground in defeating the monster of racism in our nation.
- Run the race with endurance. Some of you may be tired of seeing senseless murders without change or discussions and debates without solutions or positive outcomes. Whatever you do today, STAY THE COURSE.
- Keep your eyes on Jesus. It is so easy to be distracted by what we see that we forget the things God said.
Jesus endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in a place of honor. It may be hard to see, but the cross comes before honor. I want to encourage you, though the cross of unity is heavy, to remain focused on the example we see in the life of Christ that Gives us hope. Keep your attention on him!
