Gifts and Talents

           There are many types of races. There is the Track Meet, The Sprint, The turkey Trot, The 5K, The 10K, The Marathon and many others. A race can be for a trophy or to see if we can complete the run.

      Runners need to train for the event that they are entered to run. They will run most of the course many times while training. A track meet or a sprint requires a fast pace while a marathon requires a steady pace. The training is very important to be ready for the race.

      We as Christians are in a race also. We are not competing with other Christians or even ourselves. We are in the race to complete it. Our race is not a sprint or a track meet type of race, but it is a marathon. We run a course that requires a steady pace. No ups or downs but a steady and some times, a slow pace.

      We also need to train ourselves for this race. We do it by learning everything we can about God’s word. We study the word of God day and night so we can respond to our enemies with the word of God and not our own words. We get the word of God into our hearts, mind and souls. When Jesus was tempted He answered with the word of God to Satan. We also reply to our enemies with the Word of God.

      We also strive to do the will of God. That is why we are on this earth, is to do His will. We come into subjection to Him and we strive to please Him in everything we do. We put down our earthly desires to do what He asks us to do.

      The race is not to the fast, and not to the strong; it is to Him that we run this race. We race to honor our God and to give Him the glory, for He deserve everything that we can give to him. He is our Lord and we give our lives to Him. The main thing is that everyone runs his/her own race and not someone else’s race. We run our own race to the Lord and we will complete the race that God has given us.

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      New King James Version
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25* And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26* Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27* But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

      New King James Version
Hebrews 12:1 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,
2 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.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

      New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that--The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

      New King James Version
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;