A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Serve Faithfully

 

    2 Chronicles 19:9

He commanded them, saying, "You must Serve Faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of The LORD."

    As stated in yesterday's study, God requires wholehearted service. But He also requires of us faithfulness. Many of us long to hear those precious words someday, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21). 

    To serve faithfully is to be steadfast. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Steadfast: morally fixed; firmly, securely positioned; not given to fluctuation (does not pay heed to lesser doctrines; is not doubleminded {James 1:8})

    To serve God faithfully is to serve with fidelity. His Name is Jealous and He desires to be first in our lives: in our hearts, in our thoughts, in our desires. As a husband and wife demand fidelity in the marriage, so, too does God demand it in His relationship with His people. It is faithfulness in every aspect of service to The LORD.

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."

    When we love with the Love of The LORD, we love wholeheartedly. When we serve in the Love of The LORD, we serve faithfully. Let us then serve The LORD with every part of us that we may receive such a blessing as the servant who invested the master's wealth and doubled it. Let us bless The LORD with our talents and our gifts that He would receive the glory and honor from them. 

CALLED TO SERVE FAITHFULLY 

Faithful Now - Vertical Worship

Find Me Faithful - The Perrys

Faithful - Ryan Stevenson

Belong To You - Here Be Lions

Walk By Faith - Jeremy Camp

My God Is All I Need - CityAlight

A Crucified Life - - Endures Hardships

 

2 Corinthians 6:4,5

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5281

Endurance: a remaining behind, patient waiting for, steadfastness

From the Greek word ' hupomoné' (pronounced hoop-om-on-ay'): properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life.

    When Paul says they (he and his companions) commend themselves, he is not doing so in a prideful way. He is not saying, 'Look what we've gone through'. He is reminding the church in Corinth that regardless of the difficulties we find ourselves in in our lifetime, God is with us; for He has allowed different situations and circumstances to happen that we may grow in Him. 

    The plantings of the Lord require strivings to push through and reach the sunshine and the fresh rain. It's a struggle to  break out of what we're used to (the shell around the seed) and push ourselves upward out of the mud (miry clay). But we do so knowing that the Lord has called us to do. And that He is ever near us: watching us, calling us, waiting for us to call Him.

    Endurance is a necessity in a Christian's life. It is the desire to be obedient and trusting on God to get us through each challenge we are given. Not necessarily to deliver us out of the hardship, but that God's purposes are fulfilled in us and in those we are ministering to in our hardships. 

    Someone is always watching. When Paul and Silas were in prison, they weren't alone. Other prisoners could hear them singing and praising God. The jailor was right outside the door and could hear them glorifying God while they were chained up. And what happened? The jailor and his family got saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit! [Acts 16:16-34].

    Who is watching us? Wherever we live and work and play, someone is always watching us to see if our testimony is true and faithful and believable. While some wait to see if we fail in our faith, some also wait to see if we are real, if our faith is real, if our words are words of hope and love and mercy and compassion and wisdom. We walk the walk while we talk the talk. 

    So we endure. We endure divorce. We endure miscarriages. We endure cancer. We endure the death of our loved ones, even if we feel that they've died too soon. We endure sickness and chronic pain. We endure tragedy, calamity and destruction; whether from a natural disaster or an unbelieving community. 

    We find ourselves displaced: no place to live, no house of worship to gather in, little to no food on our tables; having only the clothes on our backs and the shoes on our feet, if that. BUT GOD is still God in our lives. God we still praise for He is our GOD. He is our Shelter (our place to live), He is our Glory (our place to worship), He is our Sustainer (our bread and wine, milk and honey). 

    The Lord God is with us in that which we must endure in order that His will is revealed as we go through what each of us has been called (ordained) to go through. God will carry us when we believe that He is God and there is no other god. God will walk with us when we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. When we walk with the Lord, we never go through these hardships alone. Therefore, we are not afraid, for the Lord is with us.

    It is because God loves us that we Endure. And at the end of every endurance challenge, there is always a prize for the ones who endure. Every race has its own reward. But the endurance race in which the Christian is participating has a reward, too: the eternal presence of the Living God and Christ our Crown of Glory. 

    So, we patiently wait for His return, doing the work He has given us to do. Yes, we do long for His return, but there is still much work to be done. Not everyone is ready and we need to get and be ready, that we might rise with Him when the Father sends Him to bring us home.

ENDURING HARDSHIPS 16 Songs to Encourage and Uplift

Heart & Soul - - Hard Pressed

 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2346

Hard Pressed: afflicted, compressed, rub together

From the Greek word 'thlibó' (pronounced thlee'-bo): distressed, oppressively afflicted, made to feel confined (hemmed in) {between a rock and a hard place}. 

WE DO NOT LOSE HEART

    Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

    Luke 18:1-7 tells us the parable of the persistent widow who kept pestering a judge to act on her behalf, which he finally did. It is a strong reminder of our need to pray to our God, our Father in heaven, who hears our prayers and acts on our behalf, as well. We do not stop praying: we do not stop interceding for others, nor do we stop praying for ourselves. Like the song goes, It's Me, It's Me, O Lord, standin' in the need of prayer. 

PLANTING FOR A HARVEST

    Galatians 6:9

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

    1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

    That harvest the believer reaps is their reward for all their hard work in the kingdom of God. The harvest of souls saved, delivered, filled and working side by side with all of us: the here and now believer, the righteous believers in the Old Testament and in the early church in the New Testament Scriptures, the believer who is believing even now while we are in this moment, and the believers who will believe.

    That harvest is the building up of the saints of God, His holy people, His church. I am in the harvest. Someone prayed for me. I should've died when I was living in sin. Had I died then, my soul would have gone to hell. I am so thankful that someone loved me enough to pray me into the kingdom of God.     

    Never give up. Never stop praying. Never stop interceding. Hold your ground and don't back down. Regardless of who comes against us, even the ones we are praying for, we will remain rooted and grounded in the Word and hold onto the promise of God that our households would be saved as long as we believe. 

    Some Christians here in America are being persecuted, but not all; not yet, anyway. Some Christians here are mocked for their faith. Some are physically attacked, but all of us are under a spiritual attack. 

    It is that attack that we come against. We fight/pray for our families: we want them with us in heaven. We pray for our friends: heaven wouldn't be the same without oru friends there rejoicing with us. We pray for the strangers, the foreigners in our land, that they, too, would know the salvation of the Lord and shout for joy. 

    We pray for our enemies: we pray the blessings of God upon all of them. We do not seek their demise, nor do we pray against them: we pray for their deliverance, that their hearts would turn to God and that God would turn their lives upside down. 

    We pray for the persecuted saints all over the world. As it was in the early days of the growth of the young church, so it is even now. They who come against the saints of God are the enemies we are praying for. For it is not people we war against with our prayers; it is darkness in high places, invisible to the naked eye but seen by the eyes of God (Ephesians 6:12).

    We pray for our missionaries, the people we have sent to other countries around the world to share the gospel of salvation. We pray that their needs would be met  and their desires accomplished in their ministries.

HARDPRESSED

    You ever make your own juice in a juicer? The machine squeezes the best parts of the fruits and vegetables into a pitcher at one end, while, at the same time, removing the seeds and pulp at the other end. Without the squeezing there would be no wonderful juice to drink. 

    It is the same for us. The mature believer knows that it is in the crushing, in the pressing, that we are made new again and again. The hard times, the difficult days, bring us closer to God. We are His New Wine and we are poured out before Him. 

    We accept it for we have surrendered our to His will. We have submitted to His calling for us, preferring to be the clay that gets molded and not the clay that gets tossed out into the rubbish heap. He Didn't Throw The Clay Away. We are His vessels of honor, His new wine, His moldings and fashionings. From glory to glory we advance against the kingdom of darkness, pressing on to reach the kingdom of glory where our King reigns on high. 

THE LORD IS WITH YOU

    Psalm 37:24

Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.

    1 John 4:4

You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

    Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

STEADFAST

SCRIPTURE WARFARE SONGS

   

    

The Lord Is -- November

 

YHVH CHECED

(pronounced yeh-ho-vaw' kheh'-sed)

THE LORD IS MY STEADFAST LOVE

He is my Steadfast Love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Everything about this verse concerns warfare, especially spiritual warfare, so it seems unusual for the psalmist to write here about God being our Steadfast Love, doesn't it?

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2617

Steadfast Love: goodness, kindness; lovingkindess, great mercy

While checed can be used to describe others' actions toward us, here it speaks of Who God Is to those who take refuge in Him, who are sheltered by Him in times of trouble, trial and tribulation. 

Goodness

Exodus 34:6, 7

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Kindness

Nehemiah 9:17

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 

Lovingkindness

Psalm 63:3

Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.

Great Mercy

Micah 7:18-20

(18) Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

(19) He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

(20) You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Dear God,

You are my Steadfast Love. When I repent, You forgive me. When I seek Your face, You show mercy to me, though I do not deserve it. When I turn back to You, You turn Your face to me; You love me in spite of myself. 

This day You are my God. I choose You above all else. You are the God who forgives, who shows compassion to all who seek to know You, and to have a closer relationship with You.

Lord God, You are a generous God, loving all people everywhere. Thank You for loving me when I was in an unlovable state, when I was covered n the muck of sin and the mire of my transgressions against You. Thank You for saving me and covering me with Yourself, with Your blood. 

Thank You, Lord, for being a whisper away; closer than a brother, You are a Friend who never leaves me, nor forsakes me. Help me to lead others to You that they, too, may know Your wonderful Love.

In Jesus' Name, I pray

Amen.

ADONAY ELOHIM

(pronounced ad-o-noy 'el-o-heem' )

LORD MY GOD

Psalm 86:12

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.

When we say to God, You are our God, that's a collective congregational decision; a unified in spirit declaration.

But when we say to God, You are MY God, that's an individual personal decision; a cry, a whisper from the heart of 'I' to the heart of God. 

2 Chronicles 2:4

Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.

Solomon was getting ready to build a temple for the LORD, an actual standing immovable temple. But as Christians, when we give our hearts to God, we are giving Him a place to dwell within us, a permanent place for Him to live: as long as we remain in His Word, His Word will remain in us. As a born-again Christian, I reiterate: I need to remain in His Word that His Word would remain in me. 

Psalm 30:2

O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.

When we need to be healed in every way, not just physically, but spiritually, we indeed seek God to heal us. For we know that He is the only Healer who can heal us from all diseases and ailments, for He created us. God heals broken bones, sore muscles, various diseases and sicknesses, allergies, mentally challenged people, aching hearts and removes sin from the sinner. 

Doctors can put bones back together, but God does the restorative healing. Doctors can prescribe medicines, but God heals the body and mind. Nutritionists work with people to change their diets that their bodies would work more efficiently, but God is the ultimate Healer. 

When the heart is overwhelmed by grief and trauma, God puts all our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8). God heals the brokenhearted and fills the cracks and breaks with His Love. 

I am healed by the Grace of God and filled with the Love of God. My broken heart is strengthened in His Word and His Word thrives in me. There are no more tears to cry, though there are still sad times ahead. 

Psalm 109:26,27

26. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

27. Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion.

When a Christian, a Christ-follower, suffers verbal abuse, many times we do cry out like David did. We cry for God to come and help us, for our ears cannot take it any longer. Our hearts are under attack and we begin to feel sorry for ourselves, when in fact, we must not let them get through our spiritual armor, but repel such darts of the enemy. Wouldn't it be nice if the evil words spat in our direction were to reverse direction and dart back to the speakers? But were that so, then the evil words that leave our lips when we are stressed or frustrated would then come back to us! 

David cried out to God for God's salvation and deliverance. And though he did live to see it in his day, God answered David's cry through David's lineage. The Savior of the world would be born out of tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5), of David's seed (Isaiah 11:1, 10; Romans 15:12). 

I, too, have cried out to God to save me. He saved me from the first cry. He saved me from the situations in which I had placed myself. And He saved me from the clutches of death. God saved my soul and He lives in my heart. For God is the God of the whole world, of which I am but a small part, but God is the God of me, of 'I'. 

God wants to be your personal God. He's calling you to be part of His family, a woven into His heart son or daughter, an intimate friend/servant in His kingdom. 

As Joshua asked the people of Israel, in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Is God your God?

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Steadfastness

 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1476

Steadfast: firm, firm in purpose, morally fixed, securely positioned, not moving off course, not fluctuating

Colossians 1:23

If indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

If you have your Thesaurus handy, you may see there are other words describing this word 'steadfast': resolute, inflexible, unwavering, unyielding. We can also see the opposite of being steadfast: unreliable, dishonest, weak. 

This word 'steadfast' occurs three times in the New Testament. Here is 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Corinthians 7:37, and again in Colossians 1:23. But when we search out it's definitions, we find other verses which help us understand what it means to be a Steadfast Warrior. 

Psalm 1:1-3

       Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

or set foot on the path of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,

and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

yielding its fruit in season,

whose leaf does not wither,

and who prospers in all he does.

While forces beyond the tree's control may uproot the tree and destroy it, the tree itself does not make that decision. Here we see that being steadfast and immovable serves a purpose: it causes the tree to prosper and be fruitful. 

Why are we pursuing the tree as a symbol of steadfastness? Because the Lord compares His people to trees. Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

PSALM 1:1

We are immovable, fixed in our purpose to glorify God with our desire to serve Him and each other in His kingdom. A Steadfast Warrior does not let him or herself be influenced by ungodly advice, nor do we walk the same paths, nor do we allow ourselves to get caught up in a crowd of mockers. A Steadfast Warrior lives a life of integrity and honor. 

PSALM 1:2

We determine to set times when we read God's Word, when we pray to God, when we praise God. We set up life-changing, soul-changing, goals and stick to them, regardless of the cost. Our social life will change. Our priorities will be realigned. The world around us will not influence how we live our lives: the Spirit of God within us will. A Steadfast Warrior lives a life of self-improvement, exercising our faith that it might grow and prosper. 

PSALM 1:3

A Steadfast Warrior sees people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ,  whose faith increases incrementally by seeing our the results of our faith happen; our prayers are answered: lost loved ones are found, the sick get healed, the dying restored, the dead are raised. 

Our souls prosper: Our emotional well-being glows when we stick to our faith in The Word of God; Our thoughts are centered on The Word of God; Our attitudes get changed, sometimes gradually, sometimes immediately. 

There is no confusion or doubt in a Steadfast Warrior. When questions arise, we seek answers in God's Word and in our prayer times with our God. And in these times, we wait for God's response.

Ephesians 4:14-15

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 

The Steadfast Warrior does not allow him or herself to be swayed by every argument put forth, but remains anchored to the Word of God in which we have placed our hope.  We are unwavering in our faith. 

Have you ever seen the Queen's, now the King's, guardsmen standing outside Buckingham Palace or St. James Palace? They have their orders and follow them to the letter. Always on guard, alert, appearing to stare forward at all times but aware of peripheral activity, that they may be ready to defend their royal employer. 

Consider the Sentinels at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. They serve 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for two years with strict rules that must be followed. They never relax fully while serving in this capacity. Sentinels serve with honor and are unwaveringly committed to their course. 

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

1 Peter 2:12

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

A Steadfast Warrior sets his/her mind on things above (Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.)  and pays no nevermind to the events happening here below. Yes, be aware of the times, but not allowing ourselves to be run, or controlled by the upheaval around us. Focus on Christ, Who waits at the finish line for His people to arrive, and crowns each of us as we cross over. 

Matthew 24:36-47

(42)  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

A Steadfast Warrior keeps watch for Lord's return, ever mindful of our behavior, our attitudes towards one another, our interactions with each other, the words we speak and the things we do. 

Our integrity must be upheld. We must make a decision to follow where our Christ leads us: out of the mire, through the valley of the shadow of death, up on the mountains high, across deep waters, in the fires meant to destroy us: Where He Leads Me I Will Follow. Why? Because I am a Steadfast Warrior in a spiritual war, a war in which the enemy of my soul is wily and uses every little thing to try to get me away from my post, who tries to destroy my reputation, who tries to discourage me in my walk with Christ. 

A Steadfast Warrior is always in prayer mode, alert to the devil's tactics and raising up our shields of faith to prevent his fiery darts from entering our hearts. We remain in the Word and the Word remains in us. Our souls prosper.

Today's Word -- Patience

 2 Corinthians 6:4 

But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses. 

2 Corinthians 4:8, 9

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

Strong's describes this word 'Patience' as (1) a remaining behind (2) a patient enduring (3) endurance (4) steadfastness. 

 5281 hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life. 

And because this patience is God-enable, we are made aware that it truly is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Patience is endurance. Romans 15:4 "For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." Hebrews 12:1-3 (1) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. (2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Patience is perseverance. Perseverance is constancy, remaining constant with one goal in mind. 1 Timothy 6:11, 12 "But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses." Luke 8:15 "And that in the good soil, these are those who, having heard the word, keep it in a worthy and good heart and bring forth fruit by perseverance."

Patience is steadfastness. Steadfast is morally fixed, securely positioned, firm in purpose. 1 Corinthians 15:58 "And that in the good soil, these are those who, having heard the word, keep it in a worthy and good heart and bring forth fruit by perseverance." Colossians 1:22, 23 "But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence ----- if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, having been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I Paul have become a minister."

Patience is also longsuffering. Colossians 3:12, 13 "So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive."

Patience like this only comes from God. We already have it when we become believers in the gospel of salvation through Christ and are filled with His precious Holy Spirit, the Comforter Whom God sends to all believers. Patience is a result, a fruit, of the Holy Spirit living in us, guiding us and revealing to us the meaning of God's Word when we read and study it for ourselves. Get you a Holy Bible, ask God to reveal Himself in His Word and get ready for the race of your life. 

Ephesians 4:1-7 

(1) So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience (divinely regulated patience, longsuffering) , bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love. 

(2)  with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love.]

(3) Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].

(4) There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]--

(5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

(6) one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all (who believe).

(7) Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.