We can follow Jesus. He’s calling. He’s calling you by name. Me too.
It’s your choice. I have a choice as well. I’ll walk a path through life. And you’ll choose a path to walk. But, don’t you want to walk a great path? I want to walk the best path!
Once I cross the finish line, I want to find that I ran the exact race that was marked out for me. The destination will be proof of the path. And don’t we long for the cheers of the witnesses – the crowd already finished with their race.
Oh, and don’t we want the prize?
Jesus has the scoop on how to accomplish our greatest desire – to live a meaningful, productive and abundant life.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 esv
All that we are seeking is Him. Jesus is the WAY. Jesus is TRUTH. And Jesus is LIFE. Jesus is ABUNDANT LIFE!
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 esv
There are many paths. And there is an enemy – a thief, a murderer, a destroyer, who will purposely lie to you about the path you are on. I’ve fallen for his lies more times than I care to admit. I’ve found myself on the wrong path…and a time or two the wrong path has led to a pit or a ditch.
But Jesus has called my name. Look up; He encourages us as He extends His hand and pulls us up out of the mud. “Follow Me”, Jesus invites you. He’s invited me, and I am going! I want to go His way. And now I understand better than ever (because of all my wrong turns) He is the Way. He’s the path. Jesus is the journey. The life… Abundant LIFE. Jesus is the PRIZE!
Don’t you want to respond to Jesus calling your name? How about it… will you run the race He’s marked out for you…to win the prize? Don’t you know Jesus is worth it?
I’d love to know where you are on your journey. What have you learned on your journey? Have you heard Jesus call your name to follow Him? Are you aware of the crowd of previous race winners cheering you on?
What do you think?
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-2 (the message paraphrase)
