Hebrews 12:1
Running The Long Distance of Faith
In a recent e-mail to pastors in the Appalachian District, Superintendent Jeff Wright shared with what remains foremost on our mind and hearts, namely, that we together prayerfully anticipate once again meeting in-person for worship and fellowship in our United Methodist Churches.
He concludes his communication with “We are running this race, which has become a marathon, not a sprint, with God beside us, behind us, guiding us, and within us. Don’t give up!” Just what I needed to hear in these shadow times! No, I’m nowhere near giving up on anything, much less the failing the glorious Church of Jesus Christ I’ve committed 51 years thus far to love and continue faithfully serving. Yet but my Pastor’s Heart continually longs for the blessings of Christian enthusiasm!
The Apostle Paul’s writing in I Corinthians 9:24 further encourages we who run the long distance race of faith. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”
Furthermore, the author of Hebrews challenges all long-distance Christians in 12:1, “Wherefore see we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
It’s clear……not only is the Lord Jesus Christ accompanying we His servants in the race of faith upon which we have entered, but others are watching. This is not, nor will there ever be, a time to fall back, lag behind, nor outright quit the long distance journey of faith we have committed to Almighty God in Jesus Christ! God is watching. Our people are watching! WE ARE WATCHNG!
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made your overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.
Not seeing each other and sheltering in place is particularly lonely as we long to be in fellowship, one with another. Yet, not meeting together as a church, does not make us a non-functional Church. As a Pastor, I am emailing messages, mailing out letters and communications, submitting messages and articles of encouragement to the newspapers, Facebook and online at devotionalfriends.com.
We are also collecting for a food drive. Many are hungry in our community, can’t work, out of a job and there are children who are hungry. As a United Methodist Church with visions for missions, we are providing supplies to assist Shades of Grace United Methodist Church, who continually serve 80+ meals per day to the homeless and persons in need. Depews Chapel remains a faithful servant to this ministry.
If you haven’t given to our food drive or would like to donate, please do. Mail donations to: Depews Chapel UMC, Post Office Box 7074, Kingsport, TN 37664
Depews Chapel United Methodist Church. July 26, 2020
“Link to YouTube Video – I Will Run to You”
