Bad News Cannot Shake Us

This is from my devotional today and I thought it needed to be shared.  The emphasis and highlights/color are added by myself. The "race" of life is a marathon, not a 50 yard dash. God's not impressed with those who come flying out of the gate in a flash of glory... only to fizzle when the bad news, set backs and trials come their way. It's kind of like the tortoise and the hare story. It is he who perseveres who wins. Far too many of those on God's team are great starters but lousy at the persevering part. The winds and storms come to all of us. It is how we face those things that makes or breaks us.

Second Timothy 2:15 says: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (NASB).

This is a day-by-day effort requiring deep-rooted confidence and commitment. As Christians, we must constantly strive to live in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. We must continually walk circumspectly before God.

We are not suppose to just look great for the 50-yard dash and then fall apart, but one who continues like a marathon runner, mile after mile.

The truly diligent person is one who digs deep and lays a solid foundation upon God's Word. 

Notice what Jesus said about that man, "...when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock" (Luke 6:48 NKJV).

The deeper we dig the stronger our foundation becomes. We are to let our roots reach deep into the rock—Jesus Christ. Then Satan cannot move us. Bad news does not shake us. Whatever "flood" the enemy tries to bring against us does not overwhelm us. We are stable and consistent because our foundations are solid.

In Hebrews 12:1-3, the writer uses a race as a powerful example of how to finish as a winner: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (NKJV).

Running was one of the most popular games of the Olympics at that time. The race was conducted in a stadium approximately 600 feet in length. The starting point was at the entrance of the stadium, and at the opposite end was the goal where the judge sat holding the prize in his hand. The eyes of each competitor were fixed on the judge. They could see the prize they were striving to win which inspired them to run toward the finish line with all their might.

There is a great cloud of witnesses who surround us as we run our race (see Hebrew 11). Each witness testifies to the fact that God is faithful to His Word. These are great people of faith who, though they may have made mistakes and experienced setbacks, found that God responded to their faith and obedience to His Word. They witness to us the fact that simple faith and consistent action on God's Word will bring powerful results.