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L&L 1962-8: The Young Believers' Department, ed. by Harold M. Harper, 1500 Woods Dr., Florence, [[South Carolina|SC]]: ''Running The Christian Race'' (Heb. 12:1-2) by [[Richard Edwin Burson]] of Hutchinson, Reno Co., [[Kansas]]
NOTICE three things about this race: * 1) It is “set before us.”
* 2) It is “run with patience.”
* 3) It is run “looking unto Jesus.”
Go on, go on, go on,
And the other eleven verses were just like the first one! That man may have been no poet but he had gotten one of the most basic principles of Christianity. Go on! Keep going on for God. The second thing we learn about this race is ''How it is to be run'', with patience. We all need this grace. You can not run this race impatiently. That will not do. You must run with patience, else it will not count as part of the race. The part you think you are running when you are not happy with God or with His people is not counted up as part of the race proper.
When people try to deter you or when they provoke you or injure you a good opportunity to bless them has presented itself. When Peter walked along his very shadow fell on some people and they were blessed and helped. Peter cast a shadow which shows he was walking in the light. No one casts shadows unless they are walking where the light shines.
I suppose the thing we are least conscious of is the shadow we cast. A man running a race would not be occupied with his shadow, but I am sure he would have a shadow. We can be a blessing even in little unconscious things if we only are going along in the light of God's Holy Word.
One of the most discouraging times of my life was when I lived in [[Kansas#Salina|Salina]], Kansas, and saw that my church connection was not what the Lord wanted for me, and if I were to continue in it when I saw it was wrong I would not be in the race. I got out of it... the denomination, not the race... and was under considerable censure from people who continued in what I felt I could not continue. Life was sad and burdensome and while I tried to do what my conscience in subjection to the Word of God taught me, it was not easy to have true believers in Christ criticize and show their unhappiness with me in various ways.
But a couple of years ago a man came to see me from [[India]], and he wanted to tell me why he went to India and why he persevered there. I was amazed to learn that it all started when he saw what happened in Salina. He is today on the mission field, witnessing for Christ. Had you asked what good came from my troubles in Salina, I would have told you none at all.
But not so when obeying God. There is a shadow and we are not aware of it or what it does for others. ''Run with Patience!'' The only way to run with patience is found in the next verse: "Looking unto Jesus." There is no other way to run the race. Look at His obstacle course. Did He turn aside to some easier path? No, He went on to do the will of His Father. He said: "Without Me ye can do nothing." But with Him constantly guiding and supplying this race can be won.
Do not look at spectators.
Look unto Jesus.