On your marks, ready, set, .........

Ah, the beginning of a race. The excitement and anticipation that comes with setting out to reach a desired goal. While not all of us have had this experience, I would think that the vast majority of us have. Imagine if you will a person who has been invited to the race, and has accepted that invitation. He lines up, prepares himself, and is ready for the beginning of the race. Then, when he hears the word "GO" shouted at him, he sits down and waits to see if that "GO" was really for him, which direction he should run, and how far. He might even decide that it would be just as valuable if he funded another runner and just watched. Ludicrous...right?

Actually, that depends upon the race. Hebrews 12:1 tells us that we are to set aside any encumbrances we have, and "run with endurance the race that is set before us". Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 encourages us to to run this race as well, and not aimlessly. Our very lives after our conversion are to be lived as a race, seeking that finish which will not leave us ashamed (2 Timothy 4:7).

"On your marks" - Having made confession with our mouths that Christ is our Lord and Savior (not JUST our Savior...the King of our lives as well), and believed in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we are in the proper alignment for our race (Romans 10:9).

"Ready" - Knowing and understand the gospel of peace, we gird ourselves with readiness for our task (Ephesians 6:15).

"Set" - Having set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5), and set our hope on him who will deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:10), we are as prepared as we need to be.

"GO" - Now we RUN !!! We start from wherever we are, and begin to make disciples, immersing all within our spheres of influence in the Triune reality of God, teaching them to observe everything we have been taught (and are learning) (Matthew 28:19-20).

It is now we meet that person we spoke about in the beginning....in fact I heard it just the other day. A person who knew what to do, but instead of just starting, was going to "continue to pray about it", and asked others to pray for him as he did so.

Don't think you're ready...? Neither did Paul really, when he spoke of himself in this way... "And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom..." (1 Corinthians 2:1-4a).

Don't know who to disciple? Why not start in your own neighborhood...like the next door neighbor? Then the person on either side of him or her? We don't usually need to go very far before we start shrinking back. After all, we don't want to be labeled as a "Jesus Freak". Of course, we'll happily discuss with them the weather, or our favorite sports teams and colleges though (NOTE: When talking about things of this world it is often call sharing or a conversation...of course when talking about Christ it is "ramming it down their throats").

Maybe you just aren't that outgoing. Ever thought about simply writing out your personal testimony and mailing it to your neighbors, with a way for them to contact you? That is pretty low-key, and non-threatening.

Christians...you can do this. Just start somewhere, anywhere, and GO. You don't need to pray about it, and you don't need anyone to pray for you as you pray about it. You just need to do it. Sure, it will seem awkward at first. Do it anyway. It wasn't something that our Lord simply suggested...it was his directive for each of us.

So GO. Do it as if it really mattered...because it does. Don't wait for revelation. Start down a path (any path). If God doesn't want you to go down that path, then let Him redirect you....at least you will be moving.