You and I are in a race. It’s not a sprint but rather a marathon. From the moment you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior until the moment you cross the finish line into His physical presence, you are in a race. Your race is designed uniquely for you. Jesus has created you and gifted you uniquely for success in your race. But the most important part of the race is where you are now. You cannot change the past. The future is not yet here. So run well today!

So how will you know if Jesus considers your running successful? What does He require? We know for sure His requirement is not speed. You are in a marathon.

Deuteronomy 10:12
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Micah 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Mark 12:29-31
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Summary of Jesus’ Requirements
• Fear the LORD your God
• Walk in all His ways
• Love Him
• Serve your God with all your heart and soul
• Do justly
• Love mercy
• Walk humbly with your God
• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
• Love you neighbor as yourself

So how would you rate your current spiritual fitness?
What do you need to work on?

Here is Jesus’ promise in Hebrews 13:
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

How does Jesus describe success? Joshua 1:
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Face to Face – Carrie E. Breck

Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?

Chorus
Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now, I see Him, With the darkling veil between,
But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen.

What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.

listen to the piano=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5OxufmdNuE
listen to singing= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuLig-W4wSU

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti