From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley

How far are you willing to walk with God – a Sunday stroll’s worth? Or are you willing to go the whole grueling distance? If the footmen have tired you out, how can you compete with the horsemen? (Jeremiah 12:5)

It is a vain dream for anyone to think he can do what God asks without going through God’s training program. Training requires discipline, sacrifice, time and money as well as excellent instruction and examples of those who are good at the task. No one can become a good husband and father, or wife and mother or morally excellent citizen, good student, honest businessman or co-worker, or be patient, loving, generous, pure, etc., without training.

Put in the discipline to control your mind, your will and your emotions. Make the sacrifice to serve others first and give up your own convenience. Put the time into going to church, Bible study and men’s and women’s meetings and the like. Put your money where your morals are! Generously support your church and its ministries and give to other good works as God shows you. Don’t just support these things with your mouth – pull out your wallet and your calendar!

Pour over the Bible and other rich Christian-based materials and follow the examples of Jesus and the other good saints who followed Jesus’ example, back then and now. Keep running well and train constantly so you can finish the race and receive the prize. Don’t be deceived! Just like in a marathon…you can sign up for the race, pay the fee, wear the clothes and show up for the race looking exactly like everyone else. But if you haven’t trained, you will drop out every time until you do it God’s way. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24) Endure the fire—it’s producing pure gold!

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