In review of Hebrews 12:1 I read, “Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” (TLB)
I do not struggle alone, and I am not the first to struggle with problems. Others have run the race and won, and I can use their witness to stir me to run and win as well. To do so, I must strip off excess weight that might slow me down. I need to give up whatever might endanger my relationship with God. Then run with endurance, and struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit.
When I start to get concerned about something God is doing in another person’s life and envy starts to build, I need to refocus on the plan God has for me. Instead of getting distracted, I need to center in on God’s will for my life.
There’s a simple phrase in the story of the vineyard workers that the owner says to those who were grumbling about not getting what they deserved: “Take your money and go!” (Matthew 20:14 GW). He’s basically saying to those who can’t get past their envy, “It’s time to move on now. Quit having a pity party. Just get over it!”
There will be times when I get stuck in the past. However I shouldn't let what someone else got keep me from God’s plan for my life.
Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us” (TLB). In this verse I believe the “particular” race means my own unique race, the one that is only for me. God has a plan that he wants me to pursue that is unlike anyone else’s. He planned it for me before I was even born, and it includes better things than I could ever dream for myself.
Once I begin to discover and pursue the unique purpose that God has for my life, I won’t envy anyone anymore. I’ll be released from the tyranny of having to be best all the time. I just have to be the best I can be, the person God made me to be.
When I get focused like this on God’s particular race for myself, I’ll be so caught up in what he wants me to do that I won’t have time for envy. I’ll be living my life for an audience of one.
In summary, run with patience the particular race God has set before me. To do so, I must strip off excess weight that would slow me down and give up whatever might endanger my relationship with God. Then run with endurance. When I start to get concerned about something God is doing in someone else's life and envy starts to build, I need to refocus on the plan and will God has for me. God has a plan that he wants me to pursue that is unlike anyone else's. Once I begin to discover and pursue the unique purpose that God has for me, I won't have time to envy anyone else. I'll start living my life for an audience of one.
Besides the great reminder about envy in this study today, I’m reminded that I really just need to focus on the unique plan God has for me. I don’t need to compare myself with anyone else.
This morning Father I pray for my focus to be placed on you and the unique plan you have for my life. You want to do something through me that only you have equipped me to do. I ask for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership, my focus on completing the POAM related activities/actions and my interaction with others. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.
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