Comments on: On Running the Race (Physically and Spiritually) http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/ Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day... Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:39:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: david skinner http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/comment-page-1/#comment-97494 david skinner Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:06:39 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/#comment-97494 The Olympic games has surely become the ultimate arena for the elevation of man. But there is another arena, even that within the shadows of Beijing’s stadium, in which Chinese Christians are displayed and persecuted for their faith. It was seeing the spectacle of suffering Christians, in the Roman arena coupled with the word of God that had the power to bring about repentance in the eyes of the spectators. Isobel Kuhn in her book, By Searching, said: "The heathen around us have not much respect or interest in a smug, ordinary Christianity. If it costs you nothing, what proof have you that it has any value? is their indifferent, shrugging attitude. But when they see in any life, the print of the nail, they are challenged; and like Thomas of old, ('Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails and thrust of my hand into His side, I will not believe.'), if they can me made to see Him at that moment, they will fall down and cry, My Lord and my God." Christ presented himself as an acceptable once and for all time living sacrifice. He went through that river of death and arrived safely the other side. He turns back to us and encourages us also to plunge in, in the knowledge that our living sacrifices will now be acceptable but also produce a harvest. We have been called, not to sit and wait on the bank but to get into the river. David Skinner, UK The Olympic games has surely become the ultimate arena for the elevation of man.

But there is another arena, even that within the shadows of Beijing’s stadium, in which Chinese Christians are displayed and persecuted for their faith. It was seeing the spectacle of suffering Christians, in the Roman arena coupled with the word of God that had the power to bring about repentance in the eyes of the spectators. Isobel Kuhn in her book, By Searching, said: “The heathen around us have not much respect or interest in a smug, ordinary Christianity. If it costs you nothing, what proof have you that it has any value? is their indifferent, shrugging attitude. But when they see in any life, the print of the nail, they are challenged; and like Thomas of old, (‘Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails and thrust of my hand into His side, I will not believe.’), if they can me made to see Him at that moment, they will fall down and cry, My Lord and my God.”

Christ presented himself as an acceptable once and for all time living sacrifice. He went through that river of death and arrived safely the other side. He turns back to us and encourages us also to plunge in, in the knowledge that our living sacrifices will now be acceptable but also produce a harvest. We have been called, not to sit and wait on the bank but to get into the river.

David Skinner, UK

]]> By: david skinner http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/comment-page-1/#comment-97465 david skinner Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:25:21 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/#comment-97465 The Tale of two Jonathan Edwards http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article1991114.ece http://www.evtales.com/index.php/2008/07/29/preaching-jonathan-edwards-part-2.html David Skinner, UK The Tale of two Jonathan Edwards

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article1991114.ece
www.evtales.com/index.php/2008/07/29/preaching-jonathan-edwards-part-2.html

David Skinner, UK

]]> By: Peter Baldry http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/comment-page-1/#comment-97314 Peter Baldry Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:29:08 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/#comment-97314 Thanks Bill, true, all by the Grace of God. Life is meant to be long and rich. With triumphs and struggles. I agree Bill we do need to be encouraged in the race, "continuing" is paramount. Only in that will we know fully what our true purpose is. We all can thank God it is marathon we run, not a sprint. Just about anyone can burst into briliance but it takes true character to shine bright for the whole journey. But this type of Godly character is not present because one person is better than another, it is again by the grace of God. It is because of Jesus's sacrifice we can stand tall and continue. The question in my mind is why does one stand and another fall. I suspect it comes from, in the business and pressure of life, loosing hold of Jesus as our sustainer and source. A really good reason to encourage each other, pray for each other, especially our leaders. Thanks Bill. Peter Baldry Thanks Bill, true, all by the Grace of God.
Life is meant to be long and rich. With triumphs and struggles. I agree Bill we do need to be encouraged in the race, “continuing” is paramount. Only in that will we know fully what our true purpose is. We all can thank God it is marathon we run, not a sprint. Just about anyone can burst into briliance but it takes true character to shine bright for the whole journey. But this type of Godly character is not present because one person is better than another, it is again by the grace of God. It is because of Jesus’s sacrifice we can stand tall and continue. The question in my mind is why does one stand and another fall. I suspect it comes from, in the business and pressure of life, loosing hold of Jesus as our sustainer and source. A really good reason to encourage each other, pray for each other, especially our leaders. Thanks Bill.
Peter Baldry

]]> By: Stephen Lewin http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/comment-page-1/#comment-97256 Stephen Lewin Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:24:53 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/08/25/on-running-the-race-physically-and-spiritually/#comment-97256 Like your articles addressing this important subject. Jesus is our greatest model in how to finish well. One example of how He did it was indicated in the PASSION in the Garden where he prayed three times despite everything in His body and soul working against this. His Father's plan - to die the death of the cross - He needed strength to do it not just good intentions (not like His disciples who He was causing them to grasp hold of things that would hold them back from continuing to follow through and follow Jesus and finish their race well) He mentioned to His disciples to them "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". Not as a cop out but reflecting that their weakness was stopping them praying so that they would not be lead into temptation - they fell from following Christ shortly after. But Christ received powerful strengthening from heaven (Luke 22:43) and overcame the weakness of His flesh so He could complete the Work on Earth He was sent to do. Likewise as Christians we dont have to cop out and say the flesh is weak as an excuse so we drop out of our race or not finish well. Galations says we can crucify the flesh so as not to follow its lusts. Character, yes, is something we can all improve on - with God's help available we can. There is a way to progress and finish well. Stephen Lewin Like your articles addressing this important subject.

Jesus is our greatest model in how to finish well. One example of how He did it was indicated in the PASSION in the Garden where he prayed three times despite everything in His body and soul working against this.
His Father’s plan – to die the death of the cross – He needed strength to do it not just good intentions (not like His disciples who He was causing them to grasp hold of things that would hold them back from continuing to follow through and follow Jesus and finish their race well) He mentioned to His disciples to them “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Not as a cop out but reflecting that their weakness was stopping them praying so that they would not be lead into temptation – they fell from following Christ shortly after. But Christ received powerful strengthening from heaven (Luke 22:43) and overcame the weakness of His flesh so He could complete the Work on Earth He was sent to do.

Likewise as Christians we dont have to cop out and say the flesh is weak as an excuse so we drop out of our race or not finish well. Galations says we can crucify the flesh so as not to follow its lusts. Character, yes, is something we can all improve on – with God’s help available we can. There is a way to progress and finish well.

Stephen Lewin

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