They Shall Run
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:29–31
Despite suffering from poor health for much of his fifty-five years of life, George Whitefield crossed the Atlantic thirteen times, preached more than eighteen thousand sermons, conducted revivals and missionary works across America and Europe, and helped spark the revival known as the Great Awakening. It is estimated that Whitefield preached to more than ten million people during his lifetime. George Whitefield said, “A true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle. No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy till it is doing something for Jesus Christ.”
God did not save us just to sit back and enjoy the ride to Heaven. He has a plan for us to be active and involved in His service all the days of our lives. Jesus set the pattern for us in this regard, when in His first recorded conversation as a twelve-year-old boy, He responded to Mary’s anguish over not being able to find Him with a clear mission statement. “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).
This same necessity should guide our choices throughout our daily lives. This world is merely a pause between moments of eternity, and we have a responsibility to make the most of every moment. A Christian who is not willing and eager to work for God has a poor understanding indeed of the grace that saved Him.
Isaiah 40:29–31
Despite suffering from poor health for much of his fifty-five years of life, George Whitefield crossed the Atlantic thirteen times, preached more than eighteen thousand sermons, conducted revivals and missionary works across America and Europe, and helped spark the revival known as the Great Awakening. It is estimated that Whitefield preached to more than ten million people during his lifetime. George Whitefield said, “A true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle. No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy till it is doing something for Jesus Christ.”
God did not save us just to sit back and enjoy the ride to Heaven. He has a plan for us to be active and involved in His service all the days of our lives. Jesus set the pattern for us in this regard, when in His first recorded conversation as a twelve-year-old boy, He responded to Mary’s anguish over not being able to find Him with a clear mission statement. “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).
This same necessity should guide our choices throughout our daily lives. This world is merely a pause between moments of eternity, and we have a responsibility to make the most of every moment. A Christian who is not willing and eager to work for God has a poor understanding indeed of the grace that saved Him.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The same God who calls us to work for Him empowers us to continue in that work throughout our lives.
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