Stamina

Larry Mancini, Guest Contributor

 

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement

give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.”

(Romans 15:5)

 

Endurance is a gift of God. Interestingly enough, in this verse the Apostle Paul couples encouragement and endurance together. These are not distance cousins. They are twin sister.

 

Paul Limmer was one of the top high-school cross-country and track coaches in the United States. Even after his retirement he remained on the Top Ten list.  Thirty nine years ago, when he took on training distance runners, he would shout out at them as they were training, "You are getting stronger and stronger. You are going to be a top-notch runner.” Sometimes he would just nod with approval as his runners passed by him in long laps around the perimeter of the high school property.

 

He now has an annual invitational named in his honor at the school where he coached. Former runners from past years come back to savor memories and honor this man who had such an influence on them. I know. I was one of his runners in the early 1970s.

 

God is like that. He sends us His Spirit to encourage us and help us in the long haul, in this marathon we call the Christian Life.

 

Paul wrote about running and how it relates to out lives, but think with me about these twins of endurance and encouragement. Perhaps you have become weary in doing good. That can happen even when we are told not to let it be so. Discouragement is an arrow that hits our minds and we can lose perspective. Some have dropped out of the race or disqualified themselves from receiving the prize. This need not happen to you. If you listen to the Lord it won't! He wants you to run with perseverance the race that is set before you. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is waiting at the finish line for you. 

  

Heavenly Father, we look to you to give us endurance and encouragement. We need it. We ask you for it. May none of us reading these words and praying this prayer be a casualty in the race of life. May we all meet one day as we hit that finish line and be commended by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

 

This is Friday Evening for November 12, 2010. Guest writer this week is Larry Mancini, a Nazarene pastor

from Long Island, New York. To access prior devotionals, follow this link: www.emfsprayerandpraise.com.

To subscribe to this e-publication, send your name and email address to Dr. Tom Barnard at barnard22@cox.net.