Run Your Race

  In the race of life, you’re not running against the competition, you’re running for your personal best—God’s best for you. It’s not about how much money you end up with or your net worth according to the world’s standards, it’s about your eternal account with God. And God is in the business of people. It’s about finishing the race that God has set before you and finishing that race with your personal best. It’s about running to win your race and bringing as many people with you as you can. It’s not simply about personal achievements and accomplishments, it’s about doing what God has asked you to do and doing it with your best.

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” Hebrews 12:1 NIV

 

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV  

 

     You must not dwell on the accolades and successes of others. They’re running their own race; and if they’re not running for God, they’re running in vain. Run your race. With blinders on, if necessary, so you are not distracted by the others running too. They are running a different race, even if it’s on the same track. Run your race. Run to win. Run for your personal best. That is what pleases God. And that is what will earn you a crown at the finish line.

 

“I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.” Galatians 2:2 NIV  

 

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” Philippians 2:14–16 NIV

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It's Your Race!

It's Your Race! In the race of life you're not running against the competition. You're running for your personal best. Run to Win. I'm praying for you. www.jeffhoracek.com | #runtowin #runyourrace 

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Which Crown Will You Be Wearing?

The Bible speaks of five specific crowns of reward for believers. Which crown or crowns will be yours?

 

The Imperishable or Incorruptible Crown—For victorious lives of purity.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:24–25 NIV

 

The Crown of Exultation or Rejoicing—For soul winners.

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” Philippians 4:1 NIV

 

“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 NIV

 

The Crown of Righteousness—For those who love and long for His return.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7–8 NIV 

 

The Crown of Life—For those who persevere and endure/martyrs.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NIV

 

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victorʼs crown.” Revelation 2:10 NIV

 

The Crown of Glory—For faithful servants.

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:1–4 NIV

 

     Run your race. Run to win. Christ has a crown waiting for you. 

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Five Crowns

Which one will be yours? Jesus has a crown for you. Run your race to get it. I'm praying for you. www.jeffhoracek.com | #laurelcrownofvictory

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Your Laurel Crown of Victory

Christ wore the crown of thorns, so you could wear the laurel crown of victory.

 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NIV 

 

     Before the horror of the crucifixion, Jesus was viciously flogged to near death, beaten, spit on, mocked by putting a purple robe on Him and then tearing it off His torn and bleeding flesh, a crown of thorns mashed onto His head, and beaten with a rod given to Him as a mock scepter. He endured all that for you. 

     We might think of the crown of victory as a gold, star-pointed crown covered and inlaid with precious jewels. But the true ancient crown of victory from the Greek and Roman eras was the humble crown of the living shoots and branches of the bay or cherry laurel or sometimes the wild olive, twisted into the memorable Olympiad crown of victory that we still see today. This was the crown of honor and victory and achievement and the highest accomplishment. This was a crown that was alive and vibrant and fresh and new. Not anything like the degrading and sorrowful crown of thorns.

     Run the race of this life to win. Run to get the prize. Train yourself each day in such a way that you will win. Do not stop and become disqualified and do not rely upon your past successes to sustain you into tomorrow—that’s “resting on your laurels”—and the race your running isn’t over yet. You can do this. You can run your race and win. Christ has your crown wreath of laurel waiting for you at the finish line because He wore the crown of thorns for you.

 

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:4, 10–11 NIV

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The Laurel Wreath Crown

Christ wore the crown of thorns. So you could wear the laurel crown of victory. I'm praying for you. www.jeffhoracek.com | #crownofthorns #laurelcrownofvictory

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Walk This Way

Is your spiritual GPS working correctly? Do you truly know the path that you are on and where it leads? Are you wandering through life aimlessly, or following in the footsteps of your Master, who has blazed the trail and prepared the way for you?

 

Matthew 11:28–30 AMP

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.] For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

 

Jeremiah 6:16a Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

            —Robert Frost

 

Matthew 7:13–14 AMP

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. [Deut. 30:19; Jer. 21:8.]

 

John 10:9 AMP 

I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.

 

     Enter through the Door, the Narrow Gate, the eternal path where the good way is—this is the path that goes through the Cross—this is the path of victory, of true success, of wholeness and wellness, the path of life and rest for your weary soul. Walk in it. Walk this way.

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Follow Me

Lay your burdens down and follow Me. Drop your burdens at the Cross and follow Jesus. His path leads to victory, true success, and wholeness. jeffhoracek.com | #followchrist #footstepsofjesus

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