FAITH CAPSULE: Run the race of accomplishment before God.

1 John 2:1-6

Going to church every Sunday, going from prayer meeting to prayer meeting to Bible study, is not a ticket to heaven. 
In living life, how have you been following Him? 
Think within yourself how you have been following Him. 
One following Christ is not the evidence of following through the rules of running the track. 
One can be on the right track and be trapped.
Life is a journey.
To be living life can be compared to running a race on a race track. 
Running on a race track must keep up with the rules not to violate.
Every acclaimed believer on the race track of life who fails to follow the rules of running a race on the track of life is trapped. 
1 Corinthians 9:24 records, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” The ones who run to receive the prize are the ones who get to the expected end. 
Running the race of life is about knowing to follow Christ, author and the finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
What does it take to follow Him? 
Following Him is in knowing Him. 
It takes knowing Him and not knowing about Him to follow Him. 
Knowing the Lord is not in determination or in the strength of how one follows Him. 
Following Him is not in changing or running from one church to another. 
Knowing to follow Him is in consistent obedience to His word. 
The book of 1 John 2:3-4 expressly states what it means to follow Him, “Now by this, we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this, we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.’” 
If one has been keeping His commandments, one must be clean from all walks of life that do not represent Him. 
Those engaging in lies, deception, and manipulation are the ones with the marks of this world. 
Run the race of life according to the rules of running the race. 
God is able.
God can carry one through the race. 
Do you desire to run through and not miss the mark? 
Ask God to enable you to run the race of accomplishment before Him.
God will make you just as the potter makes and remakes his clay.  

Prayer for today: Ask God to redirect you continually so that you may run the race of life and not miss getting to the expected end.