Day 2: Running the Race
2 May 2020
2.4 MINS
Intention
Let us ‘run the race’ and make the most of this significant time to share the Gospel.
Scripture
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
—Acts 20:24
Reflection
Paul many times refers to ‘running the race’, but this Scripture is the only time that he describes what the ‘race’ actually is: the race is testifying to the Good News of God’s grace.
Imagine I told you that there was something I had to do — something so important that if I failed to achieve it, my life would have been a complete waste of time. You may be interested to know what was so important. This is how Paul explains the importance of sharing the Gospel. He says he would consider his life worth nothing if he didn’t do it. His only aim is to finish this task.
These are powerful words, and yet so easy to pass over. Paul’s words are consistent with the words of Mark 16:15, where Jesus tells us to go into all the world with the Gospel. This is the Great Commission, given to all of us as believers. And it is consistent with what the early believers were doing — every day reaching out with the Gospel, while the church grew daily.
We have heard many a sermon about this, and yet for a lot of Christians, it is something that brings guilt and shame due to our inaction. Part of the problem, perhaps, is that we need to be equipped and empowered to be able to share the Gospel. We need tools and training to be able to accomplish the task. How do we start a conversation about Jesus? What is the Gospel that we need to communicate? How can we do it in a winsome, loving, and clear way?
My intention is not to make anyone feel guilty, but to encourage you to open your heart, commit yourself afresh to running the race, and to encourage you to utilise the free training resources that are available to be better equipped to finish the race strongly!
As an easy starting point, let’s get involved with the #HopeStory this May, and share our 60-second testimony on social media. Join with millions around the world with GO 2020 to unite in prayer, and let’s reach this world for Jesus!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the opportunities that we have at this time to pray, to share Jesus, and to get better equipped to share You with others. We pause and surrender afresh to You and to all that You are calling us to do. Give us courage and wisdom as we seek to lovingly share the Good News with others. Amen.
31 Days Prayer Points
1. Pray for five people and share the Good News of Jesus with them.
2. Pray that God would use His people to reach one billion people this May.
3. Pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, both in Australia and globally.
Stu Millar is the Founder and Director of Train To Proclaim, and the creator of the ‘Gospel in 7’ App. He is working with Global Outreach Day to mobilise believers for authentic outreach.
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