Run Today's Race

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. [Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV]

Running the race along the towpath, Crinan Canal, Argyll

For the last three days I have had today's title running around in my head trying to find a home. I knew that the Lord was speaking - distilling some things together - but it proved to be an elusive message. Until this morning.

I went to bed last night trying to 'search it out' [1], and was given a vivid and strange non-sensical dream, in which I was wading into water trying to drag a cluster of eider ducks to shore when they plainly wanted to stay where they were, as well as explaining the Scripture below to our son, Marc.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 
And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” [Exodus 16:4-5 NKJV]

'Manna' probably comes from the word manan, to allot, or make a gift of. This manna from heaven is, of course, the Lord's daily provision, except on the sixth day, when an extra amount is made ready to allow for the Sabbath being a day of rest. What the Lord seems to be stressing is that He gives us what we need for now. If any of it is hoarded it ceases to sustain. None of us would consider eating food which had lain out for several days; that would be foolish and damaging to our well-being. Equally, eating more than our daily portion would not be wise either.

let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, must be seen as a daily thing, taking the sustaining manna of His word to help us in overcoming the hazards that could easily send us off the track. Our God is a god of now; of today, and He desires the best for us and He knows what we are like.

But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. [John 2:24-25 NKJV]

If we spend our days living in what happened yesterday and fretting over what might occur tomorrow, then we do not have our all concentrated on Him today. Run the race with Him as your pacemaker; one day at a time ...

[1] It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
     But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
     [Proverbs 25:2 NKJV]

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"One Day At A Time" - Lena Martell

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