Stay
In The Race
Fear of men will prove to be a snare.
Proverbs 29:25
Speaking in regard to some friends who
didn't believe as he did, Andrew began, “I was constantly arguing
with them, trying to validate my position. I even showed them
scripture to back it up. Didn't matter…they weren't listening.”
He continued, “I decided to talk to a
godly friend outside my church. He patiently listened as I poured out
my heart. ‘Andrew,’ he said when I’d finished, ‘I see you
running a race. And you’re running well. You’re out ahead of
everyone else and things are going well. But I hear the spectators on
the sidelines jeering…telling you you’re running the wrong
race. I see you leave the track and run up into the grandstands to
argue with them.’”
Andrew paused a moment, remembering his
friend’s words so he could quote them verbatim. When he continued
his voice carried the power of the revelation he’d received, “He
put his hand on my shoulder. ‘Andrew,’ he said, ‘even if you
win the argument, you’ll lose the race. Don’t waste time
vindicating yourself. Just run the race God set before you and let
Him handle the crowd.’
Andrew smiled, “That one statement
wiped away years of frustration and completely changed my
perspective. And it’s kept me focused on the work God wants me to
do instead of on what men think about what I’m doing.”
†
In our need for affirmation, it’s
easy to let what others think dictate our actions and behavior. And
while we should always, in humility, consider the welfare of others,
we must never allow their opinion to hinder our taking action upon
God’s intended purpose for our lives.
When God gives us a directive there
should be no discussion in which we look to affirm His instruction
through human intervention. Although it is wise to seek godly counsel
in implementing the process by which we act, it should never deter us
from the course set before us.
Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a
human, that He should lie.” Therefore, if He tells you to do
something, don’t leave the race to argue in the grandstands.
Prayer
“Help me put to death
the fear of men, LORD, that I might run the race
with the singular purpose to carry out Your will for my life. In
Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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