RUN THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US AND BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD TRIP US UP!
RUN THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US AND BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD TRIP US UP!
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. —Psalm 41:9
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ —John 13:18
It is so painful when those close to you rise up against you to harm you. I read of this lifting of the heal “that this figure is taken from those who are running in a race, when one attempts to trip the other up and make him fall.” How sad it is when someone close to us says or does something, desiring their “friend” to “fall” and “fail.”
I cannot imagine the emotional pain Jesus must have felt when Judas did this to Him. Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver to “trip” Jesus up. Satan was working through Judas to make Him “fall” and “fail.” Satan thought he got what he desired, but he was only carrying out God’s plan of redemption for anyone who calls on Jesus to be saved (Romans 10:13). Think of Who Jesus is— the Creator and Sustainer of all things— who friended Judas only to have Judas lift up his heal against Jesus! Think of that!
Have you had someone close to you desire you to “fall” and “fail.” Have they said or done things to encourage your failure. Those who are closest to us can cause us the most emotional pain when this happens. Family members “lifting up their heel” against us is very painful. So to it is with close friends and others that we know. Painful emotions arise when anyone “lifts their heel” against us.
We may trust people… and then they turn on us. We trust our Lord and He will never turn on us. He chose us to be His and that will never change. Others may “lift their heel” against us to see us “fall” and “fail” in the race marked out for us, but our Lord will never do so. No, He tells us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). So, let do so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhk_5c6H-yc&t=69s
Yes, Dear Father, may I run with perseverance the race You have marked out for me, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus even when others may seek to trip me up to see me fail. Thank You that is never Your desire. Your desire for me is to keep running the race to finish the race and may I do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ4lAVu9VwU