Run the Race
By Jeff Lucas
()
About this ebook
Jeff Lucas
Author and speaker Jeff Lucas travels internationally in a ministry of Bible teaching which carries a specific vision to encourage and equip the church. Jeff is the author of twenty-two books, as well as a number of study guides, booklets and a DVD teaching series called ‘Life Journeys”. Jeff’s books have been translated into French, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and German. He writes a monthly column for Christianity Magazine.He broadcasts three weekly radio shows. Jeff and Kay live in Loveland, Colorado, where he holds a teaching post at Timberline Church, Fort Collins.
Read more from Jeff Lucas
Notorious: An Integrated Study of the Rogues, Scoundrels, and Scallywags of Scripture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lord's Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWill Your Prodigal Come Home? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCreating a Prodigal-Friendly Church Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHeaven Help Helen Sloane: A Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeople Skills Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeaders of the Opposition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPromises Promises Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus and His Questions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBarnabas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStanding on My Knees: Establishing a lifeline of prayer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Singing in Babylon: Finding Purpose in Life's Second Choices Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPassion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Church Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEphesians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSongs of Praise Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdvent Another Look Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAccess All Areas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJeremiah Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Run the Race
Related ebooks
Proven Player: The Instruction Manual to Building Character in Sports and Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCourageous Sacrifice: A Lenten Devotional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCoach for Christ: We Are All Coaches Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Race Set Before Us: A Devotional Guide For Runners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Is Saving Faith?: Reflections on Receiving Christ as a Treasure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Calling Is Now Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFaith for the Journey (Volume III): Daily Reflections for Christian Living Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Grow In Christ and Measure Your Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Virtue of Hope: How Confidence in God Can Lead You to Heaven Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEndure: 50 meditations on faith that never quits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTrajectory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLiving Intentionally before God: Reflections on 1 Thessalonians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Truth War Study Guide: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5SIMPLE Small Group Study: The Christian Life Doesn't Have to Be Complicated Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsContagious Christian Living Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Called Christians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPracticing What Jesus Preached: A Month-Long Journey of Reflection, Practice, and Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrowing in Holiness: Understanding God's Role and Yours Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What It Means to Be a Christian: 100 Devotions for Boys Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReal Faith: What’s at the Heart of the Gospel? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCreed: What Christians Believe and Why Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Grateful - study guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets of the Blessed Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSalvation in the Flesh: Understanding How Embodiment Shapes Christian Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat We Believe: Understanding and Confessing the Apostles' Creed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pillars of Christian Character: The Basic Essentials of a Living Faith Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Passing the Torch - Mentoring the Next Generation for Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStill Moving: The Journey of Love’s Perfection Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWalking with Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Transition Game: An Adventures in Faith Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Religion & Spirituality For You
A Course In Miracles: (Original Edition) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Here Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Love Dare Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THE EMERALD TABLETS OF THOTH THE ATLANTEAN Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Se Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Upon Waking: 60 Daily Reflections to Discover Ourselves and the God We Were Made For Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Celebration of Discipline, Special Anniversary Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weight of Glory Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Gospel of Mary Magdalene Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5NRSV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Run the Race
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Run the Race - Jeff Lucas
CONTENTS
Introduction
1. The Race Worth Running In
2. Resolutions
3. Hold Tight to Faith
4. Relevant
5. What the Prize Is Not
6. Fully Obtain
7. Toward the Prize
8. All Over Bar the Shouting
9. Run in Such a Way
10. Temperance
11. Negative Connotations
12. What Discipline Is Not: A Quick Fix
13. Spiritual Disciplines Are Not Just Spiritual
14. Not a Straight-Jacket
15. Saving Ourselves
16. Prayer Warriors and Other Unhelpful Labels
17. Jesus and Disciplines
18. Gradual Life Change
19. Mental Discipline
20. Hard Work and Church Pillars
21. Playing by the Rules
22. Running Aimlessly
23. A Personal Rule
24. A Fading Crown
25. An Eternal Crown
26. Witnesses
27. Throw Off What Hinders
28. The Sin That So Easily Entangles
29. Run with Perseverance
30. Run the Race Marked Out for Us
31. The Pacesetter
32. Eyes on Jesus
33. Consider Him
34. Finding Our Purpose
35. One Thing
36. Looking Back—at Shame
37. Straining Forward
38. Looking Back—Living in the Past
39. Nostalgia
40. No Turning Back
41. Beware of Cheats
42. Hyper Spirituality and the Worship of Angels
43. God Rewards Us
44. God Our Reward
45. Blessing
46. The Persecuted Rewarded
47. Just between Us
48. Rewarded for Loving Our Enemies
49. Building Works Tested
50. A Curtain Call
51. God Is a Sprinter
Notes
Introduction
I think that if Paul the apostle had lived in our day, he would have treated himself to a sports channel subscription. Or perhaps he would have been a season ticket holder to support his local football team.
When I read the letters that Paul wrote, his interest in sport continually comes through; repeatedly he borrows illustrations from the worlds of track and field and boxing. And so I’d like us to ponder those sporting metaphors as we spend the next couple of months exploring this race day
theme. May our hearts be stirred again as we consider what it means to be a winner in the race of life, the race that is run for and with Jesus.
Day 1
The Race Worth Running In
Philippians 3:1–10
2 Timothy 4:1–8
Most of us are runners. Jumping out of bed in the morning, our first action of the day is like that of an athlete staring up at a scoreboard—we peer at the clock. From our first waking second, we hop onto a treadmill of activity, bustling through our days at breakneck speed. Our running isn’t just about the rate at which we hurtle through life, but in the priorities that we set. We chase after goals of achievement and accumulation, and insist that we haven’t got time to engage in unproductive
activities like strolls in the park, long evenings of giggling chatter with vintage friends, bedtime games with children or grandchildren, or the luxury of a long bath and a book. We’re runners.
Eugene Peterson, capturing the passion of Paul in his writing to Timothy, has the veteran athlete/apostle declare, This is the only race worth running
(The Message). As we’ll see, this is a theme that Paul repeated. Participating in the Christian marathon is a priceless privilege and has eternal consequences. It’s a trek, a run with Jesus going ahead as our example and yet alongside us with His daily presence: a race with a stadium full of forerunners whose own stories of perseverance and faith show us that we’re in a noble line. Compared with this, Paul considered everything else as garbage (Phil. 3:8). It’s race day, and our turn has come. Right at the beginning of our journey in this theme, let’s affirm that even when the going is tough, and the track suddenly banks into an unexpected uphill climb, the journey we take is truly the only one worth taking.
Pray: Lord, help me to run, not after that which doesn’t matter or count, but to run as a winner in Your eyes.
Day 2
Resolutions
Acts 20:13–38
2 Timothy 4:1–8
A new year’s beginning is usually the season for resolutions. Many of us at one time have resolved to eat less, exercise more, shed bad habits, and embrace healthy disciplines. Some scoff at the idea of resolutions, insisting that the proverbial leopard can never change its spots. I’m sad for anyone who does not believe in the possibility of change.
And yet hopeless resignation is often found among God’s people. Despite our teachings that God is at work in us in