Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Luke 6:46 (NKJV) “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
One of the things that Jesus has asked us to do is to make sure that we lay a good and solid foundation. We are to make time for it, seek first the righteousness of God, and all these things will be added to us as well. Unfortunately, many of us are doing the reverse by seeking everything that the world provides, and whatever time is left, we give to the Lord, which may be 5-10 minutes a day in terms of our personal walk with the Lord where we pray, read the Bible, journal and act on what He is speaking to us daily. Eternal life is knowing God and not knowing of God!
The Christian life is like a marathon and the focus is on finishing the race. Just like the Apostle Paul who has fought the good fight of faith and has finished his race, we are each running our own race, but we are also spurring each other on to finish the race no matter how gruelling and strenuous it may seem at certain moments of our lives. Just like in a marathon, where there are spectators cheering us on to encourage us, right now, there is a great crowd in heaven—those who have run and finished the race —who is cheering for us to press on and not give up.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) 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.
Those who have completed the race know what it takes to finish it. Jesus went through all the different trials, tribulations, and temptations. He is our High Priest who understands our struggles and can empathize with us. Jesus is familiar with mental stress and physical suffering because He has experienced them while on earth. In fact, He was the first man who walked out God’s calling, separated Himself from the lure of the world and the temptation of Satan after having fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. He is the victorious one, and He has set an example for us. We are not alone in this race because He understands pain, the betrayal of man, the stress of life, the persecution of our faith and the various kinds of suffering in the world today.
Sermon Series: Resilience (Part 1)
祂知道要付何等代价
马太福音 6:33 你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。
路加福音 6:46 你们为何称呼我主阿，主阿，却不遵行我的话呢。
主耶稣要求我们做的事情之一是我们要确保打好稳固坚实的基础。这需要我们为之腾出时间，先求神的义，这些东西也都要加给我们了。 不幸的是，我们中间的很多人的行为恰恰相反，我们先去寻求世界所提供的一切，之后才把剩下的时间交给主，按照我们各自的灵修及祷告、读经、作灵修笔记，以及行出祂吩咐我们去做的事，大概也就每天5~10分钟而已。永恒的生命是认识神的生命，而不仅仅是知道神的存在。
基督徒生命就像一场马拉松赛事，重点在于完成赛程。就像使徒保罗一样，他打过了美好的信心之仗，已经跑完了全程。我们都在奔跑着各自的赛程，但是同时我们也要彼此激励跑完全程，无论我们生命旅程中某些路段看似多么艰辛吃力，如今在天国里也有一大群人—他们已经跑完了他们的赛程—正在为我们加油打气，鼓励我们坚持不放弃。
希伯来书 12:1-2 我们既有这许多的见证人，如同云彩围着我们，就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程， 仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣。他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边。
那些完成比赛的人最清楚的知道跑完全程所要付出的代价。主耶稣亲历了诸般的试炼，患难和试探。祂是我们的大祭司，了解我们的挣扎，能够体谅我们的苦情。主耶稣知悉精神上的压力和身体上的痛苦，因为祂在世的时候全都经历过。事实上，祂是第一个行出神所呼召之事的人，在禁食了四十个昼夜后，祂从世界的诱惑和撒旦的诱惑中分别为圣，全然胜出，为我们树立了榜样。我们并不是独自在奔跑。祂理解痛苦，人的背叛，生活的压力，因信仰而受到的逼迫以及当今世界的各种苦难。
讲章系列：韧性（反弹/恢复能力) (第一部分)