Finally, I am here at launch in Washington DC, and it is ridiculous with what God is already trying to teach me! He is not only preparing my mind, heart, and spirit to be a better Racer, but also a better follower of Christ in everyday life for they are one and the same. I see how the way of Christ goes against the ways of the world, that is if one truly dedicates their life to picking up the cross willing to die in health, comfort, friends, finances, and family daily. Paul states that he dies every day, but in Romans 5 he explains that suffering builds endurance, which produces character, which produces hope! So, how does one go through suffering in a fashion that brings about that greatest hope in the entire world! This is what God has been working with me, because let’s be honest, every time something HUGE happens in the kingdom of God his disciples make sacrifices and go through pretty intense suffering. 2 Corinthians 6 is just one of many places in the Bible that illustrates the sacrifices and suffering one must endure to advance the gospel. Nonetheless, there is so much joy, happiness, love, hope, and faith within this suffering. Obviously, God is going to use my squad to do huge things; herein, He is teaching me how to suffer and go through hard times with hope!
If our single, all embracing passion is to make much of Christ in life and death, and if the life that magnifies him most is the life of costly love, then life is risk, and risk is right. To run from it is to waste your life. What a tragic waste when people turn away from the Calvary road of love and suffering. All the riches of the glory of God in Christ are on that road. All the sweetest fellowship with Jesus is there. All the treasures of assurance. All the ecstasies of joy. All the clearest sightings of eternity. All the noblest camaraderie. All the humblest affections. All the deepest discoveries of God’s Word. All the most earnest prayers. They are all on the Calvary Road where Jesus walks with his people. Take up your cross and follow Jesus. On this road, and this road alone, life is Christ and death is gain. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insult, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” In the darkest of hours is when the light is most appreciated and glorified! So when suffering comes this next year PRAY that I rejoice and not complain. Complaining is to the Devil what worship and praise is to God
I don’t want this blog to sound morbid or depressing. Suffering and sacrifices could be in the shape of being agitated with teammates, food poisoning, long 60 hour bus rides, intense labor in 117 degree weather, putting others before myself, etc. By no means am I blind to the dangers out there that could cause far more intense suffering, but my God is sovereign over ALL, each star comes out by name at night because he calls them by name. Nothing will happen to me that is outside my soveriegn God's plan. I have lost my life to Christ, so he owns me doubly. Not only did he create me, but he bought me with his blood by humbling himself to the point of death. He owns me doubly. So pray that I remain positive in all circumstances, pray that I speak life into people in all circumstances, that I honor people in all circumstances, that I put others before myself even at the expense of my comfort, that I remember that Christ cares more about character than comfort, and above all that I express and receive love in all circumstances. I love all of you so much, and I pray you grow in Christ with me this next year. Just be obedient and he has the rest. For it is done.
