Category Archives: Running

Abiding, Battles, Bible, Hindrances, Race, Running

HINDRANCES

GALATIANS 5:7

“You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

We have all probably witnessed a race where one runner cuts off another runner intentionally knocking them off their course. It’s usually done when no officials are watching. This can really rattle a runner. It can cause a serious injury. You have to be aware of your surroundings and stay focused on the race. Otherwise, you are subject to all kinds of hindrances.

Paul uses a running analogy in today’s verse. He actually says, “You were running well;…” That verb “running” is the Greek word used to describe a race. Then Paul uses the Greek word egkopto which is translated “hindered.” Souter defines this as “introducing an obstacle that stands sharply in the way of a moving object.” Someone was trying to knock the Galatians off course. They didn’t want them on this journey with Christ. Hmmm, who could that have been?

APPLICATION

I know there were actual people involved in this “hindering” of the Galatians. But who was actually behind this? Who stirred them on to cause confusion in the Galatian churches? It was none other than the devil himself. He can’t “unsave” you, but he will do everything he can to take you out of the race. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, keep alert, your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” He’s real, and he’s prowling.

In a passage about forgiveness in 2 Corinthians 2, Paul ends in verse 11 with this, “so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” If you don’t think Satan isn’t scheming ways to take you out, you are dead wrong. He is looking for ways to knock you off course, to be that hindrance.

Unfortunately, we give Satan way too many opportunities by our own actions. Then we blame him when we mess up. Not true. Satan can’t make you do one thing. He will give you temptations and opportunities, but it is your decision whether to accept that nudge. Don’t go there. I love Joshua 1:9. As Joshua was preparing to take over after Moses’ death, the Lord spoke to him and said, “‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.;” He is with you today, as well. Be strong. Take courage.

Lord, I will not allow the evil one to knock me off course. I will high jump those hindrances he puts in my path with Your strength and power.

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Bible, Captivity, Freedom, Running, Scripture

YOU HAD BETTER RUN TO GOD

ZECHARIAH 2:6

“‘You there! Flee from the land of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘because I have spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,’ declares the LORD.”

Have you ever been told, “Run and run hard”? When I was a little boy my brother and I used to love to go to my Grandma Carter’s farm because we could roam that place and find all sorts of things to do. We loved to climb over in the pasture with the cows (that was a no-no, but we did it anyway). We would get as close to them as we could and then we would throw rocks at them. All is well until…you hit the bull. He didn’t like that. We would get chased by him and have to dive under the fence to escape. I can still hear my brother Tim yelling, “Run, Carl, Run!!”

The Lord God is delivering His message through the angel to Zechariah, but it is meant for all those still in Babylon. He says, “Run! Get back home! I’ve got a place for you here where you can spread out and be safe.” In fact, the sentence begins with a double yell. He cries out “Hoy, Hoy” just to get their attention. In other words, “Hey you there, you better listen up.”

APPLICATION

Isaiah tells the people a very similar message in Isaiah 48:20. “Go out from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with the sound of joyful shouting, proclaim this, send it out to the end of the earth; Say, ‘The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob.’” You have to understand something. For some of the captives, all they had ever known was Babylon. The thought of leaving, even a captivity, was frightening. It took some urging.

Is that you? You know you are being held captive by your sins. You know you need to leave what you are doing, but you are afraid to step out. Listen! Hoy! The God who is calling you is waiting for you. He has a better place for you. He would not call you out of the sin you are in to place you in a worse place. He is all about drawing us near to Him.

That reminds me of James 4:8. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Do that today. Cleanse and purify. That is done by coming to Him. He is the One who cleanses. He is the One who purifies.

I run to You, O God. I know You are standing with open arms.

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Bible, Judgment, Running, Scripture, Secrets, Sin, Submission, Surrender, Trust

STOP RUNNING!

HABAKKUK 2:2

“Then the LORD answered me and said, ‘Write down the vision and inscribe it clearly on tablets, so that one who reads it may run.’”

You may have heard the joke about the two men in the forest who come up on a bear. One of the men kneels down and reties his shoes. His friend said, “That’s not going to help you outrun this bear.” To that the man said, “I don’t have to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you.” I know – dad joke, right?

God’s message to Habakkuk would cause the people to run. They would hear about God’s coming judgment and try to outrun it. As they discovered, you cannot outrun God. There is no escaping Him. His reach is too long. His feet are too swift. He knows where you are going and will find you. That hasn’t changed today.

APPLICATION

Are you trying to run from God? You may run, but you cannot hide. Hebrews 4:13 says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.” Psalm 90:8 reads, “You have placed our guilty deeds before You, our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.”

Stop running! Turn toward Him and confess those “hidden sins.” Allow Him to cleanse you and purify your heart. You won’t believe the relief you will feel. When you finally unburden yourself of those secret sins, you will be able to breathe and walk uprightly.

I know I can’t outrun a bear. I probably can’t outrun anyone. So, I am certainly not going to try to outrun God. Instead, I will run towards Him. I want to feel His warm embrace. I want Him to catch me mid-stride and stop me right in my tracks. He will whisper softly, “Come to me, my precious child.” Aren’t those words you want to hear?

I will cease striving and running after my own desires. I will turn to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

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