Today’s Daily Bread ~ The Spiritual Treadmill

Hebrews 13:8-9 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God’s special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

I love to run.  My sisters are excellent runners – gifted with a natural talent for it.  Both of them have several marathons under their belts.

My gifts, on the other hand, are not in the arena of athletics.  The reason I started running is actually pretty interesting.  It was my senior year in high school, and I was a mess.  Depressed about my weight (which had fluctuated to the heavier side).  Too much partying and not enough studying.  Then I did something stupid, and got in trouble.  I honestly don’t remember what it was…but I know it had to have been bad…because my dad gave me an ultimatum: run track or spend the rest of the year grounded.  “Hi, I’m Rebecca. Is this where we go to sign up for track?”

It was the best thing my dad could’ve done for me.  I fell absolutely head over heels in love with running.  I loved being outside, hearing the birds, and feeling the breeze.  For the first time in my life I felt strong, instead of nervous and weak.

While I always look forward to a nice, long run, I dread the treadmill.  In fact, I’ve boycotted it.  One of the most satisfying things about running is knowing that I’ve covered some distance…that I’ve put some miles on my shoes.  I like to look back and see where I’ve been.

A treadmill, on the other hand, is just running in place.  I know you’re burning calories and getting exercise.  For me, It’s just not the quite the same thing. 

I think the author of Hebrews is warning the Jews to get off the treadmill.  They had spent hundreds and hundreds of years following the Old Testament law as best as they possibly could.  Rule after rule about what they could eat, when they could eat it, and how they had to prepare it.  They had been diligently faithful to the law.

And that was the problem that so many of them faced, when they came face to face with Jesus.  They were faithful to the law.  Not the God who gave it to them.

God wants us to follow a moral code of conduct.  But following rules cannot bring us salvation.  He gave the Jews the law to point them to a Savior.  No one could keep the law in its entirety.  The purpose of the law was to show mankind how desperately they, and we, need grace.

I’ve spent my entire life believing in Jesus.  I’ve spent about a year actually following Him. 

I would try over and over to be good.  And every effort was futile.  I believed in Jesus.  I believed that He died on the cross for the sins of the world and that He rose again on the third day.  But my actions reflected what was in my heart.  I believed in His existence.  I just didn’t believe that He could meet my every need.  I didn’t believe that shedding a sinful lifestyle would result in peace and joy.  I was buyin’ what Satan was sellin’.

October 26th of 2010 will be my sober birthday.  October 27th will be my obedience birthday.  That’s the day that I realized I could not do anything on my own.  That’s the day I fell to my knees, and truly surrendered my life to Christ.  I asked Him to forgive me, to give me the strength to walk the path He chose for me, and to cleanse me from the inside out.

If you watch someone on a treadmill, there’s no question they’re moving.  They are definitely exerting effort.  But they’re not going anywhere.  If we try to follow the rules without surrendering our will to God, we’re simply running on a spiritual treadmill. Working, but gaining no ground.

I want you to let these words sink in…If you don’t surrender your heart to God you limit what He can do in your life.  God wants to bless you abundantly, love you lavishly, and drench you in His mercy and grace.  But He requires your permission to do it.  You must surrender your heart.  That’s when God smiles, takes your hand, and says, “Alright! Now we’re getting somewhere!” 

He will take you farther than you ever dreamed possible.  As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).’”

I spent my 20s and a nice chunk of my 30s pit-hopping.  When I surrendered, I thought my days of having fun were over.  My friends, I didn’t know what fun was until I let God’s Word slice through my chains and set me free.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to pray for the person reading this right now.  They are Your child, and You cherish them.  God, if they are walking in obedience to You, then I want to offer up a praise offering!  Hallelujah!  If they are struggling, please minister to their hearts.  Please gently point out the areas in their life where they are limiting you, Father, and impress upon them Your promise of freedom.  God, I’ve walked on both sides of this fence.  Your way is the only way.  I will never go back, and I want the same thing for everyone who finds this website.  Lord, please lift this person up.  Fill them with Your Holy Spirit.  Strengthen and encourage them.  I love you so much, and I ask these things in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.