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. . . If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?
—Jeremiah 12:5
Can you race on foot against horsemen? Jeremiah asks a pointed question about our level of commitment. The obvious implication is that if we grow tired and give up when dealing with relatively inconsequential problems, we will never be able to handle major problems. If we have problems dealing with grocery money, how will we be able to manage Kingdom finances? If we cannot keep our own house in order, how will we rule nations?
Sometimes we twenty-first-century Christians feel as though we have it rough. The early Church, however, had it much rougher. They were indeed running with the horsemen! Paul commended the Thessalonians’ faith and perseverance, saying, “You received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
The presence of greater challenges in our lives doesn’t mean that God has left us, but it does mean He trusts our ability to run with the horses. With the help of God, you can outrun any challenge in your life, as Elijah did when he outran Ahab’s horses all the way to Jezreel (1 Kings 18:46).
Get ready for a new level of commitment. The foot race is over— the horses are coming!
Suggested Reading:
Jeremiah 12:1-14:10 1thessalonians 1:1-2:8 Psalm 79:1-13 Proverbs 24:30-34