Spotlight 2/2021: Looking up – running forward – enduring the race!
Love changes a person, as anyone knows who has ever been in love. Also our love for God changes us. District Apostle Leonard Kolb (USA) explains how in his thoughts on our 2021 motto.
God is love—thus, all love in this world must originate in Him. One of the greatest feelings a human can have is to be in love. This feeling occupies your heart and mind continuously, even as you carry about your normal affairs. You may find yourself writing your names together, dreaming about being together, thinking about a wedding…and around it all is the sweet sensation of intense joy. From this emotion of love, you feel serene, settled, and secure for your future.
Christ, our future: our motto for this year is based on our deep love for Jesus Christ. The opening words of Hebrews 12 perfectly describe the reaction of a bride deeply in love with her Bridegroom: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” In anticipation of being with our Beloved, we are determined to separate ourselves from this world and leave behind all that which does not belong in our new home, God’s kingdom. This we consciously and earnestly do, in order to have the strength to fulfil what we desire the most.
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith …” We run towards Jesus! And our motivation and everything we need to empower our running, struggling, battling, and overcoming comes from looking to Him! Looking to Him, studying Him, occupying ourselves with Him has changed us and continues to transform us. Looking to Him “lightens” us to transcend this world to a place of peace and settlement and we begin to experience His serene composure. In spirit, we ponder what our existence will be like in complete harmony and unity with Him and all those whom He has prepared to be His bride.
How stirring and encouraging to know that He also has thought of being with us and of this future that we will share together, as we read further: “…who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame.” In love with us, our Bridegroom, our Saviour took this upon Himself to be with us.
What shall we do to be with Him? Look to Jesus, run forward, endure the race, and be confident in our future with Him.
photo: NAC USA