You have a Calling

 The bible tells us that following Jesus is like running a race but in another place God tells us to walk. No one can run all the time. The strongest runners run a set distance and then stop.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Cor 9:24 NIV

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph 5:1–2 NIV

There are times in life when we need to make an intense effort for a limited time. God calls some of us to fast and pray or to spend a whole night in prayer. An evangelist has to spend time in intense prayer and study before he preaches to a crowd. He may have to preach several nights in a row and pray for many seriously sick people after each sermon. 

But then he needs to take time out from time to time. Jesus Himself told his disciples to withdraw from the crowds and rest for a while to recover their strength. 

When Jesus ministered to crowds in Israel, he walked from town to town. When the Apostle Paul did mission work over a vast area, he also walked and prayed as he walked. 

When the bible tells us to run, we are meant to understand that there are times when we often need to make a concentrated effort for a limited time.

When the bible tells us to walk, we should understand that we need to keep steadily moving forward spiritually and in practical ways, day by day and hour by hour. 

Paul tells each one of us to live like a runner in the Olympic Games, but this raises a question. Only one runner can win the race, so how is it that each Christian can expect to win?

The answer is simple. Each man or woman has a unique calling. If you faithfully carry out the assignments that God has planned for your life, God considers you to be the winner of your individual race. You are not competing against other believers. 

Many Christians fail to reach their God given destiny because they try to compete with other believers. 

There are also very gifted evangelists who fail to reach their potential because they try to do the work of pastors or teachers instead of sticking to their calling to be evangelists. 

Is is also important to understand that there are different stages in life. Sometimes we need to make a concerted effort, like running a race. A good example is the hard work of a mother nursing her baby. She must be available around the clock and the effort is constant and very tiring.

I am now a man approaching my 77th birthday. I need to conserve my energy. At my age I need to walk and rest often and get plenty of sleep, but I can still use my gifts to write and encourage others.