Designed to Spur

Written by Lisa Hagen (Minnesota, USA)

Lisa Hagen is a home-schooling mom to 7 amazing children, whom she and her husband hope to raise for God’s kingdom. She also coaches track and cross-country for local high schools. Additionally, Lisa is also a coach for the wheelchair division in track as 2 of her sons have muscular atrophy.

July 5, 2022

Heb 10:23-‬25 (ESV)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

As I pray over being “designed to spur,” this verse came to mind. 
Spurring one another on is more than just encouraging each other to run daily, keep training, and striving to our personal records. 
As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, it is also about encouraging each other in the faith, growing our faith through reading the Bible, sharing what we have learned and what the Holy Spirit is teaching us, spending time together and alone in prayer and worship. 

We need to do good works out of love for our Savior and encourage each other to do likewise by sharing how God is working through what we are doing.
 Speak words of life and hope out of love to each other and those not in the faith so that they might see the love of Jesus shining through us.  

As Kingdom runners, we must spur each other on to remember that our time and gift of running should and must be used for fellowship with each other and time with our King who calls us beloved sons and daughters. 
Time in prayer and worship in each mile is vital. 
If we are on a run and see someone in need, be like the good Samaritan – stop and help them.
Let’s shine the light of Jesus on them through our actions.

Due to a few physical issues, I haven’t been able to run as much in the later winter and spring, and as I tie on my running shoes this week, I have been reminded how precious that time is with my Jesus as I run. 
Indoor workouts and prayer time in my home is interrupted often by my children, whom I love and are a great gift from the Lord! 
But that one-on-one time with Jesus to worship, pray and sing to, even for a short run or walk, is such a gift! 

This verse popped up to me twice yesterday, so I know the Lord is telling me to pay attention. He has something to say to me:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”
Heb 12:1 (ESV). 

So let us run, not just physically,  but spiritually! 
Let us throw off any sin clinging to us in our lives!
Let us encourage one another, not just physically, but to grow in the Lord Jesus!
And let us take these gifts from the Lord and share them with the world so that they may know Him.
Be encouraged if the above is speaking to you and know that we are here not just for ourselves but wholly committed to each other, to give a pat on the back, to utter a word of affirmation, to push each other on till we all meet with our Lord Jesus. 

Prayer and Reflection:

  • Why do you think that God has called us to be a body of Christ?
  • How can you be more active in spurring others in their walk with God?
  • Who is that one person that has been spurring you to grow closer to Jesus? How does he/she do it?
    Take time to appreciate that person today.

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