Dealing with denying yourself while running the race

 

The Amazing Race - Training Camp 2013

Evening Devotions

Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

The Badwater Ultramarathon is a two-day, 135-mile trek that begins in the desert of Death Valley and ends high in the Sierra Nevadas. The race entails roughly the equivalent of running from Fish Lake north to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or southeast from Camp Duncan to Monticello, Indiana. While climbing nearly halfway to Mount Everest. In temperatures that can approach 130 degrees. 

It is an extreme race that requires a tremendous amount of mental toughness. The Ultramarathon, triathlons, marathons are becoming more popular for serious runners. But even smaller races that involve mud, obstacles and fun like Tough Mudders, Ironmans, 5K Color Runs or Electric Runs, are becoming more popular. Whether you are training for a 5K run or a Tough Mudder or the Boston Marathon, you not only gain muscles for running, you also need to give up the bad things that will drag you down. You have to be strong-willed and give up hot wings and French fries, ice cream and cake, soda and sugary juices. You then need to fill your body with vegetables and fruits, lean chicken and fish, water and Gatorade. (One of the nice things at Training Camp, though, is that for a week we give up vegetables and enjoy lots of Mrs. Rockhoff’s late-night snacks.)

Moses gave up a lot. Faithfulness in his training to the Lord meant that he gave up the power, riches and pleasures of Egypt. Though he was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He denied himself everything that would make him respected, well-known, rich and powerful. By abstaining from these things, Moses left nobility behind and identified himself with the enslaved people of Israel.

Moses then took on being a shepherd, a husband, and a father. For 40 years he walked all over the Sinai Peninsula herding his sheep and goats. God later used Moses training in both the Egyptian palace and the Sinai wilderness to make him into a leader for God’s people. Like a runner training for a big race, Moses was fine with denying himself some current pleasures for the future glories that awaited him in heaven. He regarded his disgrace for the sake of Christ to be worth more than all the treasures of Egypt.

It is very difficult to deny ourselves the pleasures of the world. We want to indulge our every sinful desire. We want what we want and we want it now. We don’t want to wait. We don’t like to hear “no.” We don’t enjoy having less than we desire. That’s why we become overweight and lazy physically. That’s why we become dull-minded and slow mentally. And that’s why we become greedy and gossipy, selfish and covetous, hurtful and harsh, moody and depressed spiritually. We feed our mouth as much as we our stomach will hold. We treat our mind with as much silly nonsense as we have time for. We indulge our sinful nature with as much filth and desires and pleasures as our parents and teachers will allow.

That’s why Training Camp is so good for you. You learn that you can live without your TV, cell phone, iPod and other electronic devices. You learn that talking back to a counselor or not being on time for an activity or throwing your trash on the ground will have consequences. You learn that physical activity like climbing a tower, rowing a boat or swimming is actually fun. You learn that mental activity like doing crafts or Pastor Rockhoff’s challenges or Muckman Suitcase are enjoyable. But, especially you learn that spiritual activity like morning devotions, Bible studies, evening devotions, prayers and hymns are beneficial.

Training Camp is about emptying yourself of the bad things and filling yourself with the good things. It is denying yourself and filling up with Christ. It is saying “no” to your sinful nature and saying “yes” to your Spirit-filled sanctified nature.

This year our theme for camp is “The Amazing Race.” In our morning devotions we will hear about running with perseverance, running to get the crown and finishing the race. In our Bible studies we will learn about the apostle Paul’s first missionary journey. In our evening devotions we will hear about how Paul ran with a thorn in his side or Abraham overcame boredom as he looked to finish his race of life or how Joseph kept on going despite losing so many times in his life. We’ll sing all of our fun camp songs, plus our favorite hymns like “Speak, O Lord,” “In Christ Alone” or our new theme hymn for this year, “Fight the Good Fight.”

This week you will give up a lot. You’ll give up some sleep, but you’ll have a full day. You’ll give up some independence, but you’ll learn to be dependent on your counselors and fellow campers. You’ll give up your wishes, but you’ll have fun fulfilling the desires of those around you. You’ll give up talking back to our parents, but you’ll learn to listen to your counselors.

And through it all, we are like Moses. We give up pleasures that may hold us back or slow us down. For the sake of Christ, we realize that we are looking ahead to a greater goal, a better reward in heaven.

We see how Christ denied Himself the pleasures of an air-conditioned cabin with bunk beds for his 12 buddies, so that He could win us a glorious mansion in heaven. We see how Christ, for a short time, did not make full use of His power or glory, so He could grant that power and glory to us on the Last Day. We see how Christ endured suffering, shame and death so that He could give us forgiveness, life and salvation.

And now because of what Christ has done for us, every time you mess up at camp by indulging your sinful desires, we and He forgive you and He sanctifies your desires. Every time you say OMG or take the Lord’s name in vain, we and He forgive you in His name. Every time you get pouty or too competitive or too lazy, we and Jesus forgive you and He recreates a proper attitude within you.

Whether we are training for an Ultramarathon or 6 days at Training Camp, we deny ourselves and fill ourselves up with Christ.

 

Questions:

Who has run in long race/5k?

What are some things that you need to give up to train for a race?

What do you need to give up to follow Christ? (What are your pet sins?)

What activities do you need to add to your daily/weekly to-do lists? (more prayer, bible studies…)

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please forgive us when we indulge our sinful natures. We are so needy and so desirous of everything that is bad and harmful. Instead, this week, fill us up with your Word in our devotions, Bible studies and hymns. Change our attitude so that we may give glory to you in the way we talk to, act towards and live with our fellow campers and counselors this week. Amen.