Together # 58
A Together for Perseverance
A Together for Perseverance
Run the Full Race Together
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Help one another through the entire race of faith to become continually more like Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 8:11; Phil 3:12; Col 1:21-23; Heb 12:1-4
Christians are to be in a race that takes such great perseverance that we need to run together. And we are to see that we all finish the race by staying faithful until our dying breath.
. . . , let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, . . .
Heb 12:1c
Heb 12:1c
How much are we aware that we are in a race? Is there anything about the faith that leaves us exhausted? Do we live as though organizational church is the race and the pew is the finish line? If that is so, we minimize the faith and insult God.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son, . . .
Romans 8:29a
to be conformed to the image of his Son, . . .
Romans 8:29a
God saved us by killing His Son so that He would have a redeemed people He could change into the image of Jesus. This is what life is all about. This is the race! We need to want what God wants. And, He wants us running toward Christlikeness.
We should want this for ourselves as much as God wants it for us. As runners in a race, we must be motivated. Our first motivation should be to honor God by getting into the race against time to become like His Son. Our second motivation should be that we want to be like Jesus. What is greater than to take into ourselves the character of Jesus? And, our third motivation should be to prepare for the best possible life in heaven.
We each have one lifetime in this sin-contaminated world to become as much like Jesus as we can before we die and get to the finish line which is at the gates of heaven. There will likely be another race in heaven, but this is our race now and it is against time with sin getting in the way of the path we are running.
Runners do not get to a certain speed and stop there. They keep on trying to better their time. Likewise, we know that we are really in a race if we take stock of ourselves by the standard of Jesus and then see if we can become a little more like Him over and over again. Ask any runner if it is easy to gain in speed and endurance. You will find that it is hard work, and that those who race must be disciplined.
We need to change our attitude about our faith. We must stop thinking of it as a way to be constantly blessed by God in enjoyable ways. A wonderful day with few problems is a blessing, but not the best blessing. Instead, the blessing we should seek is to be able to exercise our faith against some challenge so that we grow in thinking, feeling, and acting like Jesus in some new way.
We should want this for ourselves as much as God wants it for us. As runners in a race, we must be motivated. Our first motivation should be to honor God by getting into the race against time to become like His Son. Our second motivation should be that we want to be like Jesus. What is greater than to take into ourselves the character of Jesus? And, our third motivation should be to prepare for the best possible life in heaven.
We each have one lifetime in this sin-contaminated world to become as much like Jesus as we can before we die and get to the finish line which is at the gates of heaven. There will likely be another race in heaven, but this is our race now and it is against time with sin getting in the way of the path we are running.
Runners do not get to a certain speed and stop there. They keep on trying to better their time. Likewise, we know that we are really in a race if we take stock of ourselves by the standard of Jesus and then see if we can become a little more like Him over and over again. Ask any runner if it is easy to gain in speed and endurance. You will find that it is hard work, and that those who race must be disciplined.
We need to change our attitude about our faith. We must stop thinking of it as a way to be constantly blessed by God in enjoyable ways. A wonderful day with few problems is a blessing, but not the best blessing. Instead, the blessing we should seek is to be able to exercise our faith against some challenge so that we grow in thinking, feeling, and acting like Jesus in some new way.
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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Heb 12:1-2a (NIV)
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The writer of the book of Hebrews challenges all of us to “run the race marked out for us”, so let’s examine this passage to find out what is real progress in the Christian faith.
It is mentioned that a huge number of witnesses are watching us from heaven. Can you imagine a crowd watching an Olympic race and the runners wander about, occasionally running, but usually walking or doing nothing at all? How disappointing would that be? We should not want to disappoint those citizens of heaven watching us.
Living the faith together is the race those watching want to see. The race is not learning the Scriptures without living them out. We must pull one another along in the race by making sure Bible knowledge is not the finish line. We have all heard hundreds of fine sermons that gave us Scripture to act on, but no one has held us accountable to “run with it”. Those in heaven might be screaming at us like football fans wanting a good play that gains solid yards toward the goal line. Thanks be to God that they are cheering us on. We just need to know they are, even if we cannot hear them.
The writer of Hebrews tells us we have to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”. But, of course, we need to enter the race first. Once in it, we need to avoid anything that would hold us back from winning our race.
The race follows a course marked out for each of us by God. Here is another warning sign that we might be running the wrong race. It is not designed by us. We are not the ones to make all the choices. The instruction is not just to run, but to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. This race designed for us cannot be comfortable, so it seldom includes going to Sunday School classes or Bible studies on topics we pick because they are interesting. Such a choice might be on the race course if it promises to be uncomfortable and requires perseverance.
The course marked out for us is most likely fluid and not known beforehand. Unlike physical races where runners can “walk the course” a few times to be familiar ahead of time, the course for us is spiritual and cannot be foreseen. It is designed by the divine care and guidance of God, what we call the providence of God. We see it only as life develops hour by hour, day by day, month by month, and year by year. It is a course designed to conform us to the image of Jesus, so only God can design it. Since Jesus did only what His Father wanted Him to do, it is most likely that our courses are unique to each of us so as to prepare us to do whatever God wants us to do now as well as later in heaven. And to do it as Jesus would.
Next the writer of Hebrews tells us to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus”, the One who brought us into the race and the One who is perfecting us in our faith for God’s glory. Can’t get any clearer than that! If the race is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, than the running is to be His way of running, marked by His character.
Then we are told that this race includes suffering, because it requires perseverance. However, it need not be tiring or hopeless if we keep in mind that Jesus was crucified painfully but came out of it gloriously.
It is mentioned that a huge number of witnesses are watching us from heaven. Can you imagine a crowd watching an Olympic race and the runners wander about, occasionally running, but usually walking or doing nothing at all? How disappointing would that be? We should not want to disappoint those citizens of heaven watching us.
Living the faith together is the race those watching want to see. The race is not learning the Scriptures without living them out. We must pull one another along in the race by making sure Bible knowledge is not the finish line. We have all heard hundreds of fine sermons that gave us Scripture to act on, but no one has held us accountable to “run with it”. Those in heaven might be screaming at us like football fans wanting a good play that gains solid yards toward the goal line. Thanks be to God that they are cheering us on. We just need to know they are, even if we cannot hear them.
The writer of Hebrews tells us we have to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”. But, of course, we need to enter the race first. Once in it, we need to avoid anything that would hold us back from winning our race.
The race follows a course marked out for each of us by God. Here is another warning sign that we might be running the wrong race. It is not designed by us. We are not the ones to make all the choices. The instruction is not just to run, but to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. This race designed for us cannot be comfortable, so it seldom includes going to Sunday School classes or Bible studies on topics we pick because they are interesting. Such a choice might be on the race course if it promises to be uncomfortable and requires perseverance.
The course marked out for us is most likely fluid and not known beforehand. Unlike physical races where runners can “walk the course” a few times to be familiar ahead of time, the course for us is spiritual and cannot be foreseen. It is designed by the divine care and guidance of God, what we call the providence of God. We see it only as life develops hour by hour, day by day, month by month, and year by year. It is a course designed to conform us to the image of Jesus, so only God can design it. Since Jesus did only what His Father wanted Him to do, it is most likely that our courses are unique to each of us so as to prepare us to do whatever God wants us to do now as well as later in heaven. And to do it as Jesus would.
Next the writer of Hebrews tells us to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus”, the One who brought us into the race and the One who is perfecting us in our faith for God’s glory. Can’t get any clearer than that! If the race is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, than the running is to be His way of running, marked by His character.
Then we are told that this race includes suffering, because it requires perseverance. However, it need not be tiring or hopeless if we keep in mind that Jesus was crucified painfully but came out of it gloriously.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Heb 12:2b–4 (NIV)
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As life goes on, various aspects of Scriptural obedience is required. Usually, one or two of the Togethers apply to how Jesus would handle each situation. Each Together comes from Bible verses and passages that show the way to become like Jesus. In this sense, the race is like an obstacle race, each phase of the race a different challenge, often with the suffering that changes our spirits.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:14-18
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Again, the goal of this race is be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ so that He can present us to the Father holy, blameless and above reproach.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
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Col 1:21-23
Paul was writing to a church, not an individual. We need to run the race of faith together! All of those things we do together is the race. It is not head knowledge, but the Scriptures of the 65 Togethers applied most powerfully in our Christian friendships, Christian families, and Christian marriages.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
A group of twelve Christians decided to form a long-term group with the purpose of helping one another live for Jesus Christ. They all had been in many Bible studies so the focus would be helping one another live according to what they already knew from the Scriptures.
Shortly, a few who could only imagine a small group doing Bible study left the group. After some time, one person decided to drop out of the race of faith and divorced. The spouse stayed. With a focus only of running the race of faith together, over the years the members of this group fought the good fight of the faith. Through encouragement and one another’s examples, they helped Jesus who lived inside of them come out more and more to take over their lives in one way or another. They were not so aware that this was happening, but it did as the Holy Spirit worked in each of them. |
This race we run together is to be conformed to the image of Jesus, God’s Son. Anyone who has studied what the life of our Savior was like will know that this is a pretty tough race. It should be easy to see that our spirits cannot be changed into the likeness of Jesus without facing things similar to what He faced when He lived here within sinful culture and among sinful people. Considering it in our minds can only go so far. Actually facing difficulties like Jesus did is what will change something in our spirits to glorify God and lead to greater enjoyment in heaven.
Consider the time that Jesus healed ten lepers but only one of them came back to thank him. Jesus weathered that disappointment without any sinful response. That was one of the least difficult things our Lord faced, but could we do it? Until we can have no negative reaction to people who take advantage of us and do not appreciate what we have done for them, our spirits are not yet changed to be like that of Jesus in this small way.
Running our race, the one marked out for each of us individually, takes us into many situations that require the part that is deep within us we know as our spirits to change. Usually, first comes only temporary change. The first time we peacefully overlook someone distorting our motives and accusing us, our spirits move in the direction of the nature of Jesus. Such spiritual growth needs repetition for the reaction of our spirits to get stronger, ultimately being no challenge whatsoever. Then we would have reached Christlikeness because Jesus could naturally take false accusations without fear or anger.
Therefore, by looking at the race Jesus ran, we can learn what might be included in our race. Remembering Genesis 2:18, we know that God declared that the perfect Adam needed a helper. Facing the difficult stretches of our race course definitely needs help from one another and God. But, not help just from God, because He and Adam could have been enough when God decreed that He did not want to be Adam’s total help. God made it so that he needed Eve. And we need those in our Christian Inner Circles.
Jesus was hardly popular everywhere He went. Those in His own home town did not have faith in Him. Likewise, our race will take us through periods when we are not liked by everyone as well as have people in our lives who do not believe in us.
Actually, we should not want everyone to like us. That is not following in the path of Jesus and will not grow our spirits to depend on God’s favor.
Consider the time that Jesus healed ten lepers but only one of them came back to thank him. Jesus weathered that disappointment without any sinful response. That was one of the least difficult things our Lord faced, but could we do it? Until we can have no negative reaction to people who take advantage of us and do not appreciate what we have done for them, our spirits are not yet changed to be like that of Jesus in this small way.
Running our race, the one marked out for each of us individually, takes us into many situations that require the part that is deep within us we know as our spirits to change. Usually, first comes only temporary change. The first time we peacefully overlook someone distorting our motives and accusing us, our spirits move in the direction of the nature of Jesus. Such spiritual growth needs repetition for the reaction of our spirits to get stronger, ultimately being no challenge whatsoever. Then we would have reached Christlikeness because Jesus could naturally take false accusations without fear or anger.
Therefore, by looking at the race Jesus ran, we can learn what might be included in our race. Remembering Genesis 2:18, we know that God declared that the perfect Adam needed a helper. Facing the difficult stretches of our race course definitely needs help from one another and God. But, not help just from God, because He and Adam could have been enough when God decreed that He did not want to be Adam’s total help. God made it so that he needed Eve. And we need those in our Christian Inner Circles.
Jesus was hardly popular everywhere He went. Those in His own home town did not have faith in Him. Likewise, our race will take us through periods when we are not liked by everyone as well as have people in our lives who do not believe in us.
Actually, we should not want everyone to like us. That is not following in the path of Jesus and will not grow our spirits to depend on God’s favor.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Gal 1:10
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We all need times when we are not sure anyone is truly supportive of us. How else will we hear our Lord saying, “Lo, I will be with you always”? And, there are certainly some people we do not want to like us because of what it will mean about our character. I am surprised in counseling by those who feel safe only if everyone likes them and then even hear them admit that they would have wanted Hitler to like them. Some even want Satan to like them! Jesus promised that if we followed Him and became like Him, we would be persecuted. And, He said that would be a blessing.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt 5:10-11
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Jesus stayed on course when people did not believe in Him. It would be great growth of our spirits if we could do likewise. Jesus knew God would be behind Him if He did what the Father asked of Him. If one of us bends the truth to our own advantage and we hear God asking us to stop lying, we would hopefully tell those we have hurt that we want to stop. They will likely say or treat us like we will never change. Instead of giving up because they do not believe in us, we can direct our spirits to let the Holy Spirit help us not need their belief and just focus on God’s support, knowing that with God’s help, any good thing is possible.
Jesus had a traitor in His closest circle of friends. Judas would eventually help those who conspired to kill Jesus. This will sound bizarre, but we all should probably want sometime in our lifetimes to have someone close to us betray us. This view is only possible by accepting that we are on this earth to be changed into the spiritual image of Jesus. Nothing is as valuable as that because every small change into Christlikeness glorifies God and also has a benefit for us that lasts forever in heaven.
Imagine that one of us starts up a business with a trusted Christian friend. After the company becomes profitable, this friend quits and starts up a competing business, taking his clients with him. There is a loss of $40,000 dollars. The betrayal hurts. And the chance to buy a boat is lost. However, the person whose spirit allows him to forgive this friend receives growth in his spirit to be able to value his redemption at a higher level in heaven, increasing his joy of everything in heaven by 15 percent. That eternal, never-ending, over and over and over again 15 percent more joy about everything in heaven was surely worth a whole lot more than $40,000. If any of us could increase eternal joy in heaven even 5 percent more, wouldn’t we want to take chances trusting people who might just betray us? We wouldn’t want them to for their sakes, but if it happened, what an investment in joy without end!
The point of all this is that to run the race together, especially with its occasional hard paths, is to become like Jesus. When anything difficult, hurtful, or bad in any way comes to us, we can determine that its primary value is to allow us to follow in Jesus’ race and become more one with Him. Let’s run the full race together to win the prize of being like Jesus, our highest purpose because it, far more than anything else, glorifies God.
Opportunity to Worship God
Jesus had a traitor in His closest circle of friends. Judas would eventually help those who conspired to kill Jesus. This will sound bizarre, but we all should probably want sometime in our lifetimes to have someone close to us betray us. This view is only possible by accepting that we are on this earth to be changed into the spiritual image of Jesus. Nothing is as valuable as that because every small change into Christlikeness glorifies God and also has a benefit for us that lasts forever in heaven.
Imagine that one of us starts up a business with a trusted Christian friend. After the company becomes profitable, this friend quits and starts up a competing business, taking his clients with him. There is a loss of $40,000 dollars. The betrayal hurts. And the chance to buy a boat is lost. However, the person whose spirit allows him to forgive this friend receives growth in his spirit to be able to value his redemption at a higher level in heaven, increasing his joy of everything in heaven by 15 percent. That eternal, never-ending, over and over and over again 15 percent more joy about everything in heaven was surely worth a whole lot more than $40,000. If any of us could increase eternal joy in heaven even 5 percent more, wouldn’t we want to take chances trusting people who might just betray us? We wouldn’t want them to for their sakes, but if it happened, what an investment in joy without end!
The point of all this is that to run the race together, especially with its occasional hard paths, is to become like Jesus. When anything difficult, hurtful, or bad in any way comes to us, we can determine that its primary value is to allow us to follow in Jesus’ race and become more one with Him. Let’s run the full race together to win the prize of being like Jesus, our highest purpose because it, far more than anything else, glorifies God.
Opportunity to Worship God
Shauna and DeAndrew were married for a long time when they realized that they were walking with God faithfully only in ways limited to their comfort zone. It dawned on them slowly that they were withholding worship of God by excusing themselves from obeying many of the commands of Scripture, especially when it concerned reaching out to Christians outside of their family.
They did a pretty good job with many of the Togethers of Scripture, as long as what was required could be done with ease. Then all of a sudden these two wonderful believers decided to be more assertive regarding running the full race of the faith. They did some Togethers that they had not done much before, such as hospitality and standing up for people who were being mistreated. In doing so, they soon doubled their worship of God and began reflecting His likeness back to Him much more than just in words and songs. It felt very good. It felt very good to God also! |
Critical to remember is that the highest form of worship is to become more like Jesus. This is God’s plan for us. To not go along with that plan of transforming us in Christlikeness is to do the opposite of worshiping God. To put on our running shoes and race against time to become as much like Jesus as we can is the highest form of worship.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Phil 3:12 (NIV)
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Remaining on course in the race of faith together is like God and also worship. From the beginning, God has not deviated from his course. He started off wanting a human race without sin for the kind of fellowship He had with Adam and Eve when they walked together in the Garden of Eden. Before the Great Disobedience masterfully crafted by the deceiving devil/serpent, God had an undiluted love relationship with Adam and Eve. When that was destroyed by Adam’s sin, God continued on His course to have a people of His own for honor and fellowship. Ultimately, God stayed on the race course He set out for Himself and sent Jesus to die for us.
Remaining on our own course is like God if we remember this one huge difference. God determines His course, but we do not design our own course. He does.
Note that even though God created his own course, His race took chances and reaped hurt. Constantly He believed in people, provided for them, even made wonderful promises. Still, the nation of Israel didn’t treat Him well. They grumbled. They worshiped idols. They did what was right in their own eyes rather than follow His righteous ways.
Yet, God’s love remained constant. When we stubbornly love in spite of all that is done to hurt or disappoint us, we reflect God and worship. When we do not give up on friends who do not reciprocate our love in one way or another and we stay committed to them, we worship. When we stay loyal to a child of ours who becomes rebellious or denies the faith and we continue to love him or her without anger and resentment, we worship. When we allow our spouse to vent frustration in offensive ways and silently listen and support him or her, we worship.
Let’s worship by showing God Himself through loving others consistently and staying on course in this race of redemption and purification.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Remaining on our own course is like God if we remember this one huge difference. God determines His course, but we do not design our own course. He does.
Note that even though God created his own course, His race took chances and reaped hurt. Constantly He believed in people, provided for them, even made wonderful promises. Still, the nation of Israel didn’t treat Him well. They grumbled. They worshiped idols. They did what was right in their own eyes rather than follow His righteous ways.
Yet, God’s love remained constant. When we stubbornly love in spite of all that is done to hurt or disappoint us, we reflect God and worship. When we do not give up on friends who do not reciprocate our love in one way or another and we stay committed to them, we worship. When we stay loyal to a child of ours who becomes rebellious or denies the faith and we continue to love him or her without anger and resentment, we worship. When we allow our spouse to vent frustration in offensive ways and silently listen and support him or her, we worship.
Let’s worship by showing God Himself through loving others consistently and staying on course in this race of redemption and purification.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Mill Street Church is small enough, just 237 people counting children, to make big plans for everyone’s heavenly future. The church has adopted the biblical purpose for living as Christians on this earth in this sinful culture. It is the purpose stated in Romans 8:29 to increasingly be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ to glorify God, defeat Satan, and prepare for heaven.
Pastor Babcock and church leaders have come to the conclusion that the kinds of interactions between believers in living God’s way have maximum power in smaller groups of believers during the week. Therefore, church worship and fellowship on Sundays has the additional emphasis of helping Christian friends, Christian families, and Christian marriages love one another down in the trenches of real life during the week to come. Using the framework of the 65 Togethers of Scripture, sermons instruct the different ways to help one another and develop their spirits to be like that of Jesus. Pastor Babcock has on a wall in his office cards with every church member’s name. Strings of yarn connect individuals to all of the Christians with whom they have a closer relationship and interact in a more personal way. The strings of yarn show Pastor Babcock the Christian Inner Circles of everyone listening to his sermons. He knows that it is in these groupings that obedience and love will be taught and encouraged. Whenever people join the church, the pastor’s wife, Mrs. Babcock, meets with them to identify who already in the church is a friend or relative and asks if their relationship is strong enough for mutual ministry. She also asks about other Christians regularly in the person’s life. On the occasion that the person has no close friend attending the church, Mrs. Babcock sets about designing lunches where that person can meet and develop closer ties with others who do not already have enough friends. This is the church society the church has established to make it possible for all those of the church to run the race of faith together, especially in the smaller Christian Inner Circles. Pastor Babcock will teach on one topic or passage in a sermon, accomplishing this in fifteen minutes. Then he spends five to ten minutes helping friends see ways they can help one another change into the likeness of Jesus regarding the sermon’s emphasis, then parents and kids how they can help one another, and, last, husbands and wives. Because of Mrs. Babcock’s work, Pastor Babcock knows that no one will be left out of receiving help to change his or her spirit to be more like that of Jesus. |
Because the race we run together changes us into the likeness of Jesus which glorifies God, Satan does all he can to stop us. In the Garden of Eden he started interfering with the course designed for Adam and Eve to run. His success in getting them to go off the path of obedience emboldened the devil and made his job easier. Ever since then, the devil has had the sinfulness inside of mankind to work with. If we are to successfully run the race of faith together, we need to keep in mind that the evil one schemes to stop our progress.
. . , let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
Heb 12:1b
Heb 12:1b
Satan interferes with the running of our race of faith together by successfully tempting us to use our time for activities that do not require change into the image of Jesus. He accomplishes his attack against God’s glory in two ways. We do not have time to help one another become more like Christ and glorify God, and we don’t have time to know and understand Scripture and put it into practice with one another.
Regarding just the Togethers, it takes time to learn about them, the Scriptures on which they are based and how they help others in the faith and transform character. And it takes much more time to do them with one another. God would have us live to be transformed into the spiritual image of His Son by caring deeply through applying the Scriptures to our interactions. This means loving one another through the 65 Togethers.
We would rather spend our time otherwise.
If we and our group of friends or family won a free vacation on a resort island somewhere in the world and had to cash in our prize within two weeks, what would we do? We would decide that very little other than our jobs and basic necessities needed to be done to give us the time to prepare for the trip. We would even abbreviate meals. Weekly recreational activities would be cancelled in order to get the necessary passports, vaccinations, and clothing.
Why is it so different for getting ready for heaven?
Regarding just the Togethers, it takes time to learn about them, the Scriptures on which they are based and how they help others in the faith and transform character. And it takes much more time to do them with one another. God would have us live to be transformed into the spiritual image of His Son by caring deeply through applying the Scriptures to our interactions. This means loving one another through the 65 Togethers.
We would rather spend our time otherwise.
If we and our group of friends or family won a free vacation on a resort island somewhere in the world and had to cash in our prize within two weeks, what would we do? We would decide that very little other than our jobs and basic necessities needed to be done to give us the time to prepare for the trip. We would even abbreviate meals. Weekly recreational activities would be cancelled in order to get the necessary passports, vaccinations, and clothing.
Why is it so different for getting ready for heaven?
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,
and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Rom 13:14 (NIV)
and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Rom 13:14 (NIV)
It takes a lifetime to dress in the spirit of Jesus and we treat it like it can be done quickly in a few fellowship gatherings. To change our spirits takes knowledge of the Scriptures and repeated application in loving God and one another. This is a trip we believers will take that is so much more important than an idyllic vacation. The travel to our destination of streets of gold, a new Jerusalem 1500 miles cubed, and the Home of God will take the rest of our lives, as much as we will set aside for it. The vacation, our eternal rest, will last forever.
It is worth more time. We must make it available: time for Bible study and time for loving others in difficult situations.
Regarding Bible study, we need to move off of the milk of basic doctrine as soon as we can grasp and live it. We need to move to the truth in the Bible of how God wants us to live a life of love together daily. Too often Bible study is an end in itself, so we study over and over again the same passages. Instead, why not meditate over and over about the Scriptures most applicable now to faith together, all those Bible instructions of loving one another?
It is worth more time. We must make it available: time for Bible study and time for loving others in difficult situations.
Regarding Bible study, we need to move off of the milk of basic doctrine as soon as we can grasp and live it. We need to move to the truth in the Bible of how God wants us to live a life of love together daily. Too often Bible study is an end in itself, so we study over and over again the same passages. Instead, why not meditate over and over about the Scriptures most applicable now to faith together, all those Bible instructions of loving one another?
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Cor 13:2
and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Cor 13:2
Perhaps we think too highly of knowing the Bible and not enough of doing the hard instructions of the Bible. Is knowing without doing all that valuable?
We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
1 Cor 8:1b
1 Cor 8:1b
No matter if we have only 2 or as many as 30 believers in our Christian Inner Circles, the 65 Togethers of Scripture can keep us busy for a lifetime of loving and serving and changing our spirits into the likeness of Jesus. The more time we make for people with the Togethers mind, the greater the investment for heaven.
Whenever we save money for something expensive, we make decisions not to spend on things of lesser importance. In this case of running the race together, we need much more time for doing the Togethers with one another. We can cut down on screens, making decisions to watch fewer programs on television, not being so tied to our smart phones and social media, and limiting reading and responding to email. If we are honest, we can and should find a lot of time to work on our salvation and be in spirit-changing relationships with others.
We can all reserve at least 2 evenings a week to do something loving. A first thing to do is make a list of those in our Christian Inner Circles, each on a separate sheet of paper or page in our word processor. Then we write what comes to mind that God wants us to do for this person or that person when we look through the list of the Togethers. This task will take a couple of weeks, and then we can get started stretching our spirits under the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit to love in God’s superior way.
Just think how Satan will be defeated when we do this! Love expressed through the Togethers, both to God and to other Christians, will be the devil’s nightmare. Won’t it be better for us to be his nightmare than he ours?
The evil one desires to stop, or at least slow down to a crawl, our race to become more like Jesus and glorify God. Let’s, instead, race together to speed up the process of our transformation into Christlikeness.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Whenever we save money for something expensive, we make decisions not to spend on things of lesser importance. In this case of running the race together, we need much more time for doing the Togethers with one another. We can cut down on screens, making decisions to watch fewer programs on television, not being so tied to our smart phones and social media, and limiting reading and responding to email. If we are honest, we can and should find a lot of time to work on our salvation and be in spirit-changing relationships with others.
We can all reserve at least 2 evenings a week to do something loving. A first thing to do is make a list of those in our Christian Inner Circles, each on a separate sheet of paper or page in our word processor. Then we write what comes to mind that God wants us to do for this person or that person when we look through the list of the Togethers. This task will take a couple of weeks, and then we can get started stretching our spirits under the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit to love in God’s superior way.
Just think how Satan will be defeated when we do this! Love expressed through the Togethers, both to God and to other Christians, will be the devil’s nightmare. Won’t it be better for us to be his nightmare than he ours?
The evil one desires to stop, or at least slow down to a crawl, our race to become more like Jesus and glorify God. Let’s, instead, race together to speed up the process of our transformation into Christlikeness.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
There are times when I realize how fortunate I was to grow up poor. Having more money would have opened up opportunities that would have diluted family time and time for relating to others. The two things we had in the housing projects were time and people.
My family went to church every Sunday. That was something to look forward to. But our family also studied at home how to live God’s way. My mom and dad worked hard at low-paying jobs and came home pretty tired. But, every Saturday night we all sat down and discussed the Bible verses that explained what God wanted us to do when together as a family as well as when we were with friends. Every year we would find a way to learn about and review what are called the 65 Togethers of Scripture. My brother would hang around the fenced basketball court on the east side of the projects. He was a pretty good player, but the other boys appreciated him more because he was a peacemaker. Hanging around while others took their turn to play, my brother would be helping his Christian friends in all kinds of ways. In the back of his mind were those Togethers. Sometimes watching him, I thought I saw Jesus. When I became a teenager, I had my hands full helping others. While I walked pretty faithfully with Jesus, I had girlfriends from church who became pregnant. Some did drugs. I hung in there with them, accepting them, bearing with their foul language and sinful habits, and encouraging them to turn their lives around or keep their babies rather than abort. Each time I needed to exercise one of the Togethers, I could almost feel my spirit deep within me changing to be more like Jesus. The Lord has continued to be with me. I have a good job as an office assistant in a financial brokerage office. I don’t envy those I work for with their large salaries and ability to make investments and have their money grow. My investments are of a different kind. I am preparing for heaven, not material wealth. I am quite happy to live with my Christian friends and family relating in loving ways as situations call to mind those Togethers we studied in the projects every Saturday night for years. |
This is the Together that helps prepare us for heaven in 64 other ways. Running the race together will include each of the other Togethers and their benefits for eternal life.
In addition, running the race together elevates commitment to God more than the other Togethers because it is a commitment to do all of them. Such high-level commitment to God’s desires will make us ready to dive right in to whatever new plan God has for us in heaven. Of course, everyone will listen to and respond to God’s plan in heaven because sin will not hold them back. However, those who assertively ran the course of faith to win the prize will be more enthusiastic to get going.
In addition, running the race together elevates commitment to God more than the other Togethers because it is a commitment to do all of them. Such high-level commitment to God’s desires will make us ready to dive right in to whatever new plan God has for us in heaven. Of course, everyone will listen to and respond to God’s plan in heaven because sin will not hold them back. However, those who assertively ran the course of faith to win the prize will be more enthusiastic to get going.
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 Cor 9:24-25 (NIV)
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Those who put effort into running the race of the faith together to become more like Christ and prepare for heaven will have their own unique prize. The levels achieved in whatever goes to heaven as a result of however they obeyed Scripture in implementing each of the 65 Togethers will make up their prize. They will have a reward of 65 different levels of gain regarding each of the 65 Togethers. The possible combinations is an astronomical number, allowing the prize of lifestyle in heaven to be very individual. Everyone will get the prize for which they ran.
A Christian who puts in moderate overall effort in running the race of faith with other Christians will end up with a prize of moderate enhancement of life in heaven. One who put in hardly any effort will get the basic package and will be completely happy, but a Christian who put in much effort will live a bit more royally throughout eternity.
Note also in 1 Corinthians 9:25 that not running the race produces benefits that will not last. Doing so will allow believers to live like royalty now with all sorts of kingly benefits, nice cars, extravagant food, and other luxuries. At death, they will all be gone. However, those who run the race with effort to gain spirits more like Jesus will end up with a crown that lasts forever, replete with all of its benefits in the life to come.
Paul’s letter to the Philippian church clearly connected the prize to Christlikeness.
A Christian who puts in moderate overall effort in running the race of faith with other Christians will end up with a prize of moderate enhancement of life in heaven. One who put in hardly any effort will get the basic package and will be completely happy, but a Christian who put in much effort will live a bit more royally throughout eternity.
Note also in 1 Corinthians 9:25 that not running the race produces benefits that will not last. Doing so will allow believers to live like royalty now with all sorts of kingly benefits, nice cars, extravagant food, and other luxuries. At death, they will all be gone. However, those who run the race with effort to gain spirits more like Jesus will end up with a crown that lasts forever, replete with all of its benefits in the life to come.
Paul’s letter to the Philippian church clearly connected the prize to Christlikeness.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:14
Phil 3:14
Running together toward the goal we have in Christ Jesus should consume us. It is a high calling, “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. The race takes effort, requires “pressing on toward” to become conformed to the image of God’s Son.
Let’s clear out our lives to have time to prepare for heaven. Those younger with more years left to prepare will fare the best. Those of us with only a few years need to get right on this and not be discouraged that we did not realize beforehand that the race was so comprehensive with regard to interactions with other believers.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
Let’s clear out our lives to have time to prepare for heaven. Those younger with more years left to prepare will fare the best. Those of us with only a few years need to get right on this and not be discouraged that we did not realize beforehand that the race was so comprehensive with regard to interactions with other believers.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
I never know from day to day what wonderful enhancement of this life in heaven will show up. So many different aspects of my spirit were improved before coming here by my involvement with other people, especially Christians. On one day I will be aware how fortunate I was to have let the Holy Spirit change my spirit to bear with others. That will likely be a day when I meet and talk with someone quite different than me, like the woman from China who had been persecuted. Another day it will be some other joy.
Just yesterday I was again overwhelmed by my salvation. I sat on a park bench and cried tears of happiness that I was forgiven because of what my Lord had done on the cross. That came from growing to be able to forgive a great many people back in the sinful culture. Today, I am remembering how I ran the race of faith with other believers, each of us encouraging spiritual growth and Bible obedience, especially with one another. There were times when we felt a bit sorry for ourselves that we were not making more money and going on more vacations. But now, looking back, I realize how foolish were those thoughts. |
To adequately relate how running the race of faith together will make life in heaven good would take enumerating all 65 benefits for heaven that come from doing each of the 65 Togethers. Therefore, read this whole book to get the extensive picture.
Imagine going on a vacation to New York City for a month. There are 65 great things to do there. Broadway shows, Statue of Liberty, street vendors, unique museums, and so many other things. The way to get the most out of the vacation would be to prepare for it. So, to be ready to not waste any time finding what to do, we would prepare before we got there. The more of the 65 things to do we researched, the more enhanced will be our time in the Big Apple. This does a very poor job of illustrating how preparing for heaven through all of the 65 Togethers would make life good there.
Another try at making it clearer how running the race together makes heaven better for us might be a ride in a limousine. Imagine 65 things that would make the ride more luxurious. If 58 of the bolts holding the vehicle together are tightened at various degrees, the smoothness of the ride will vary. If the chauffeur driver is a poor driver or an excellent driver will make a difference in the ride experience. 65 different aspects all at different levels of functioning make up the limousine experience. 65 different aspects of the Togethers all at different levels of functioning will likely determine the experience in heaven.
This Together of running the race of faith is foundational for a great life in heaven.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Imagine going on a vacation to New York City for a month. There are 65 great things to do there. Broadway shows, Statue of Liberty, street vendors, unique museums, and so many other things. The way to get the most out of the vacation would be to prepare for it. So, to be ready to not waste any time finding what to do, we would prepare before we got there. The more of the 65 things to do we researched, the more enhanced will be our time in the Big Apple. This does a very poor job of illustrating how preparing for heaven through all of the 65 Togethers would make life good there.
Another try at making it clearer how running the race together makes heaven better for us might be a ride in a limousine. Imagine 65 things that would make the ride more luxurious. If 58 of the bolts holding the vehicle together are tightened at various degrees, the smoothness of the ride will vary. If the chauffeur driver is a poor driver or an excellent driver will make a difference in the ride experience. 65 different aspects all at different levels of functioning make up the limousine experience. 65 different aspects of the Togethers all at different levels of functioning will likely determine the experience in heaven.
This Together of running the race of faith is foundational for a great life in heaven.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Here in heaven we all feel as close to God as we can, but each person’s experience is different. None of us are unhappy that we experience God in different intensities. We each have our limit based on how important we made Him before death brought us here.
However, one of the nicest things about heaven is that we all share our experiences with God so that even though not directly personal with God, we still get to enjoy God’s presence through the descriptions of others. There was a shadow of this before death when we would look at someone else’s wedding pictures or hear of an exotic vacation. It was not quite like being there, but it was enjoyable. |
Our relationship with God will be multifaceted. Each of the 65 Togethers opens up possibilities for additional closeness with God in heaven. And there are other aspects of our faith that will also impact our relationship with God in eternity. Since running the race of our faith together covers so very much, we need to get going if we want to improve our relationship with God now and forever.
We have probably seen that if we go along with the plan our bosses lay out for us in our employment, we get along better with them. Nothing is as irksome to an employer as an employee who does his or her own thing and pays as little attention to the desires of the boss or the needs of the company as can be gotten away with. Having run 26 clinical offices of a mental health center with over 250 employees and also owning a small game company, this author knows that it is just natural to feel close and want to be around those employees who “get with the program”.
Similarly, committing ourselves to the purpose of God to conform us to the image of His Son by running the race of our faith together must draw God closer to us.
We have probably seen that if we go along with the plan our bosses lay out for us in our employment, we get along better with them. Nothing is as irksome to an employer as an employee who does his or her own thing and pays as little attention to the desires of the boss or the needs of the company as can be gotten away with. Having run 26 clinical offices of a mental health center with over 250 employees and also owning a small game company, this author knows that it is just natural to feel close and want to be around those employees who “get with the program”.
Similarly, committing ourselves to the purpose of God to conform us to the image of His Son by running the race of our faith together must draw God closer to us.
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them,
he it is who loves me.
And he who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21
he it is who loves me.
And he who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21
Yes, bonus love from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come to us if we keep the commandment of Jesus to love one another up close and personal. The Togethers are how Jesus loved his disciples and obedience to their supporting Scriptures brings extra closeness now and in eternal heaven. Plus, Jesus will show Himself to us. Running the race together with intense focus will indeed bring a closer relationship with God.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O Loving God who has marked out a race for us to run, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to run the race of faith together rather than only individually. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we take some responsibility for those in our Christian Inner Circles and work together to build one another’s faith.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus because that is the race. And, like Jesus did, let us not give up when things become difficult, even life-threatening. Help us to see that the things that God brings into our lives or lets come in our lives are opportunities to run the race toward becoming like Jesus. Empower me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to face each situation without grumbling, but with courage.
May our lives worship You by becoming more and more like Jesus, since that is the highest form of worship. It is Your plan for us as expressed in Romans 8:29, so help us to run this race all the way to the finish line, taking on more and more of the character of Jesus until we die.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by not letting him stop our focused running of the race of faith to become like Jesus and worship God in this way. Help us to sidestep all of the obstacles Satan throws onto the course of our race, even the old self that still lives inside of each of us in my Christian Inner Circle.
Please help me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to run well with others the race of faith, even in implementing all of the other Togethers of Scripture so that we are prepared for living in heaven with one another’s help to become even more like Jesus.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O Loving God who has marked out a race for us to run, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to run the race of faith together rather than only individually. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we take some responsibility for those in our Christian Inner Circles and work together to build one another’s faith.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus because that is the race. And, like Jesus did, let us not give up when things become difficult, even life-threatening. Help us to see that the things that God brings into our lives or lets come in our lives are opportunities to run the race toward becoming like Jesus. Empower me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to face each situation without grumbling, but with courage.
May our lives worship You by becoming more and more like Jesus, since that is the highest form of worship. It is Your plan for us as expressed in Romans 8:29, so help us to run this race all the way to the finish line, taking on more and more of the character of Jesus until we die.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by not letting him stop our focused running of the race of faith to become like Jesus and worship God in this way. Help us to sidestep all of the obstacles Satan throws onto the course of our race, even the old self that still lives inside of each of us in my Christian Inner Circle.
Please help me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to run well with others the race of faith, even in implementing all of the other Togethers of Scripture so that we are prepared for living in heaven with one another’s help to become even more like Jesus.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.