Dare to Run

Intro

I played Little League when I was a kid. I was alright. But it is the dream of every Little league player to do what? Play in the Big leagues.

Now 25 Million kids play little league.

52K college Baseball Players

750 Active Major League Baseball Players.

My friends Most will never grow beyond Little league Christianity. But God calls you and I to become Major League Christians. We are Called To Run. We were born to Run.

Jeremiah 12:1–4 ESV

Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

It’s discouraging when we see the wicked prospering or maybe a sinful person thriving when you who are giving it all for Jesus are struggling. Its a hard thing amen. Its frustrating.

WE wonder God, are you mad at me?

How can that person get the promotion at work? Why are they able to have so many kids when I can’t have any?

I must just be a failure. No you’re Human. Get back up, and Run again

My friends

Do not be discouraged

Psalm 37:1–4 ESV

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Do not be discouraged the psalmist writes. There success is temporary. they will wither like the grass.

That is something we have trouble seeing in modern society.

God is preparing you and I for an eternity with Him. But we get easily trapped into focusing only on these 90 years if we are so blessed. This life will fade so fast here on Earth that we must keep our eyes set on Jesus. We must keep our eyes set on eternity.

The enemy will do all he can to get you and I jealous of the wicked around us. WE cannot take the bait.

Do not take the Bait

Do not Worry about the evildoer. Nor be envious of them? There my friends is the trap. Satan would say to you and I if you relaxed on that holiness stuff you would have more fun. If you fudged the numbers at work a little you get ahead quicker. see God is holding you back.

That is what the enemy would say to you any I. That is what we say to each other at times. compromise a little to get ahead. “Did God really say?” Maybe you heard Him wrong?

It’s Time to Run with Jesus!

Jeremiah 12:5 ESV

“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?

So Jeremiah complains to the Lord about everyone succeeding except him, and God responds:

Are you worn out already? the race has just begun.

He asks Jeremiah, how do you ever expect to deal with the hard stuff if these simple things are tripping you up?

But we are just like Jeremiah too. We allow all the lights and fanfare of this world to trip us up.

We want to run with Jesus but we trip right out of the gate.

Now some of that is growing. we are going to fall and stumble. What can happen though is we can get into a lifestyle of never moving forward with Jesus. then the next thing you and I know is 20 years have passed us by and we are 10 steps backward.

You are Called to Run with the Horses

God has called you to the tough stuff of life.

You Can Do This. Not in your own strength of course. But Through Jesus!

Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.