RUNNING THE RACE OF FAITH

By

Shelby G. Floyd

8

How many of you have participated in the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon? How many of you would like to? How many of you plan to run some day? That would be a great challenge would it not? In order to run in that race it would require a lot of training in order to be in good shape to finish the race.

I was involved in track when I was in high school. I ran the 220 yards, 440 yards, and 880 yards race, which was a half-mile. I remember that I was always able to finish the race. Sometimes I won the blue ribbon, sometimes the red ribbon, and sometimes not so good. But I always finished the race.

Today I speak to you about “Running the Race of Faith.” This is a good time at the first of the year to consider a subject like that. Everybody loves sports. Many times we talk about sports fanatics. The word sports “fan” came from the word “fanatics.” A fanatic is someone who does unreasonable things in regards to sports. But a fan is someone who does reasonable things in support of his favorite team. Therefore it is a good thing to be a fan and support the team that we love. Continue reading “RUNNING THE RACE OF FAITH”

Marathon Man

By

Shelby G. Floyd

finishing-a-marathon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few years ago the Summer Olympics were held in China. Athletes from all over the world were competing for the top prize—a gold medal of honor and glory. The New Testament abounds with allusions to the ancient games conducted in Greece, Asia and Rome. A few examples will suffice:

• “Run in a way as to get the prize.”—1 Corinthians 9:24
• “…Exercise yourself to be godly…”—1 Timothy 4:7
• “…run with patience the race marked out before us…”—Hebrews 12:1
• “…if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”—2 Timothy 2:5 Continue reading “Marathon Man”

Holding Up Each Other’s Hands

By

Shelby G. Floyd

Hands

The background for our lesson today is from a portion of Scripture found in the book of Exodus 17:8-16.

We are all familiar with the story of God’s people who multiplied to a wonderful number of something like two million people while they were down in Egypt. They were in bondage; they were mistreated; they cried out unto the Lord to save them by sending a deliverer. And God raised up Moses who was trained and educated to be their deliverer.

Moses is held up in the Bible to be a type of Jesus Christ. He was a prophet of God and Israel’s deliverer. Christ is our great prophet through whom God has spoken to us (Hebrews 1: 1-3). Moses delivered Israel from bondage and slavery. Christ has delivered us from the bondage of sin. Christ therefore was the promised deliverer like unto Moses (Acts 3: 22).

God sent Moses to Pharaoh and he put a rod into his hand. Moses did many miracles through the rod of God, confirming his message and mission to Israel. Finally, with the rod of God in his hand he separated the Red Sea, and the children of Israel marched through the Red Sea on dry land and headed toward the Promised Land.

Shortly after they were on their way the children of Israel started murmuring for water. God commanded Moses to strike the rock with the rod and water was given to them. (Exodus 17: 1-7.) Then they were attacked by a nomadic tribe called Amalek. Continue reading “Holding Up Each Other’s Hands”