Run
with Horses!
I wonder what we
are all like away from
church, away from our
families, away from
prying eyes?
Regularly,
there is a scandal
with the leaders of
our country,
businesses, or even at
church.
We read or hear
on the news of some
inappropriate business
dealing, an unfaithful
spouse, or tempers
gone unchecked.
I wonder what
we are like when the
meetings are over, the
fellowship is
complete, and the last
song is sung at church
and we return to our
lives?
I was reading
Jeremiah this week and
have once again become
impressed with the
openness of this
prophet.
A man that
faced tremendous
struggle.
A man compelled
by God to preach an
unwelcome message.
A man chastised
for his faith. A man
that lived in evil
times.
A man that
became tired and
frustrated and God
admonished him
(Jeremiah 12:5),
"If you have
raced with men on
foot, and they have
wearied you, how will
you compete with
horses?
And if in a
safe land you fall
down, how will you do
in the jungle of
Jordan
?"
Several years
ago, I was playing
football.
Our team was on
the road to win our
second championship.
We were 3 - 0
in the City of
Austin Flag Football
League
.
I caught a pass
and broke free of the
defenders and the then
43 year-old body went
65 yards for a
touchdown.
I have to admit
that I am proud of my
touchdown.
Yet, when I
scored, I collapsed in
the end zone...I was
out of breath...I was
tired...I ran with man
and won this time but
If running with men
tires me, how will I
compete with a Holy
God?
I have come to
the conclusion that I
can't.
Jeremiah ran
with man through all
of the difficulties of
his ministry, but what
is Jeremiah like
behind the scenes?
We may never
know completely.
Yet, if we read
Jeremiah, we will
uncover that he had
closeness to God that
transcends his
sufferings. Throughout
Jeremiah, we read of a
man that prays, that
bears his soul to God,
he shares his
loneliness, hurt,
anger, and listens to
God's call for
repentance.
In the end, he
experiences renewal
and hope.
Through
Jeremiah's intimacy
with God, he was able
to finish the race
against man and the
horses.
He finished the
race through
faithfulness,
obedience, and honesty
with God.
Thomas
à Kempis wrote:
"Jesus today has
many who love his
heavenly kingdom, but
few who carry his
cross; many who yearn
for comfort, few who
long for distress.
Plenty of
people he finds to
share his banquet, few
to share his fast.
Everyone
desires to take part
in his rejoicing, but
few are willing to
suffer anything for
his sake.
There are many
that follow Jesus as
far as the breaking of
bread, few as far as
drinking the cup of
suffering; many that
revere his miracles,
few that follow him in
the indignity of the
cross."
Randy
Consford, Minister
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