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Ecclesiastes 9:11 (A

mplified Bible)

“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to

the strong, neither is bread to the wise nor riches to men of intelligence and

understanding nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”

1 Corinthians 9:24, 25 (Contemporary English Version)

“You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So

run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last but we do it for a

crown that will last forever.”

Conflict and Courage,

p. 351

“Such is not the case in the Christian warfare. Not one who complies with the

conditions will be disappointed at the end of the race. . . . The race is not to the

swift, nor the battle to the strong. The weakest saint, as well as the strongest, may

wear the crown of immortal glory.”

In Heavenly Places,

p. 276

“In the heavenly race we can all run and all receive the prize. There is no

uncertainty, no risk, in the matter. We must put on the heavenly graces, and with

the eye directed upward to the crown of immortality, keep the Pattern ever before

us. . . . The humble, self-denying life of our divine Lord we are to keep constantly

in view. And then as we seek to imitate Him, keeping our eye upon the mark of the

prize, we can run this race with certainty, knowing that if we do the very best we

can we shall certainly secure the prize.”

RUN ON

For many high school students, the annual school cross-country race is a less-than-

inspiring occasion. English sports journalist Ian Stafford—admitting he has never

had a fondness for running for the sake of running—tells of similar experiences in

his school’s cross-country runs. In fact, one year Stafford and a group of friends

tried to set the record for the slowest time for the school cross-country. However,

in his final year of school he decided he would see how well he could do. He

hatched a plan to start the race as fast as he could—at least he could say he had

led the race for a part of it—and see what would happen. As the race progressed,

Stafford was unable to keep up the pace, but it took some time for any of the other

competitors to catch up with him. He was eventually caught but was surprised to

Sabbath Afternoon | Today’s Reading

Walking With God, Part 2 | Lesson 4 | April 23, 2016

Run On

finish a creditable eighth.

Some years later Stafford—still not a fan of running—was persuaded by a friend to

enter the Lambeth Half Marathon in south London. Since he was not a regular

runner, on the entry form he had to guess at his time for the distance. Upon

arriving at the start of the race, he discovered that his estimated time put him

among the fastest entrants, and so he was assigned a starting place right at the

front of the 3,000 entrants.

On seeing this situation and realizing he had no hope of seriously competing at that

level, Stafford decided to adopt the tactics from his school running “success”. At the

starter’s gun, he took off as fast as he could. Only this time, the serious runners

around him were keeping pace with him and he soon dropped back through the

field, eventually finishing about 300th.

Some months later, Stafford was amused to pick up a copy of a new book, Fitness:

Training Tips for Distance Runners. “In one of the most blatant cases of fraud I can

think of,” Stafford writes, the cover photo was of the Lambeth Half Marathon,

showing him leading the runners away from the start line.

As any runner will attest, the beginning of a race does not tell the full story. One of

the joys of sport is the uncertainty in a race or a game. Until it is finished or the

time runs out, there is always room for an upset, a comeback, a last-minute play,

or some other turnaround. A good start is important, but the focus must be

maintained until the race is run or the game is won.

Exodus 33:18-22 (Contemporary English Version)

“Then Moses said, ‘I pray that you will let me see you in all of your glory.’ The

LORD answered: ’All right. I am the LORD, and I show mercy and kindness to

anyone I choose. I will let you see my glory and hear my holy name, but I won’t let

you see my face, because anyone who sees my face will die. There is a rock not far

from me. Stand beside it, and before I pass by in all of my shining glory, I will put

you in a large crack in the rock. I will cover your eyes with my hand until I have

passed by.’”

Ellen G. White, Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, p. 147

“Moses asked to see God’s face, but the Lord told him that he could not see His

face and live. He told him that He would hide him in the cleft of the rock, and cover

him with His hand, and would then pass by before him and proclaim His name. And

He passed by and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious,

longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.’ This is God’s character. And

those who see His face must be like Him in character.”

Sunday | Today’s Reading

HERE’S WHAT I THINK

At the climax of the quest of the Holy Grail—one of the medieval tales of King

Arthur and his knights—the pure Sir Galahad is the knight who reaches the ultimate

end of the quest. He is given a glimpse of God (although what this means is not

clear from the story) and is instantly struck dead.

If you had the chance to see God face to face—and have all your doubts and

questions instantly blown away by His glory—but it meant your death, would you

take the chance?

Go to http://guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your answers. Your thoughts and

feelings may seem clearer to you when you write them down, so we’ve provided

space for you here as well. You may also wish to share them with your class later.

Be up-front and honest.

__________________________________________________________________

ABOUT WALKING: “We read of the prophet Enoch, that he ‘walked with God . . .

three hundred years.’ Enoch’s walk with God was not in a trance or a vision, but in

all the duties of his daily life. He did not become a hermit, shutting himself entirely

from the world; for he had a work to do for God in the world. In the family and in

his intercourse with men, as a husband and father, a friend, a citizen, he was the

steadfast, unwavering servant of the Lord. His heart was in harmony with God’s

will; for ‘can two walk together, except they be agreed?’” (Ellen G. White, Review

and Herald, April 15, 1909).

ABOUT RUNNING: “In these contests great risks were run. Some never recovered

from the terrible physical strain. It was not unusual for men to fall on the course,

bleeding at the mouth and nose, and sometimes a contestant would drop dead

Monday

| Today’s Reading

when about to seize the prize. But the possibility of lifelong injury or of death was

not looked upon as too great a risk to run for the sake of the honor awarded the

successful contestant.

“As the winner reached the goal, the applause of the vast multitude of onlookers

rent the air and awoke the echoes of the surrounding hills and mountains. In full

view of the spectators, the judge presented him with the emblems of victory—a

laurel crown and a palm branch to carry in his right hand. His praise was sung

throughout the land; his parents received their share of honor; and even the city in

which he lived was held in high esteem for having produced so great an athlete.

“In referring to these races as a figure of the Christian warfare, Paul emphasized

the preparation necessary to the success of the contestants in the race—the

preliminary discipline, the abstemious diet, the necessity for temperance. ‘Every

man that striveth for the mastery,’ he declared, ‘is temperate in all things.’ The

runners put aside every indulgence that would tend to weaken the physical powers,

and by severe and continuous discipline trained their muscles to strength and

endurance, that when the day of the contest should arrive, they might put the

heaviest tax upon their powers. How much more important that the Christian,

whose eternal interests are at stake, bring appetite and passion under subjection to

reason and the will of God! Never must he allow his attention to be diverted by

amusements, luxuries, or ease. All his habits and passions must be brought under

the strictest discipline. Reason, enlightened by the teachings of God’s word and

guided by His Spirit, must hold the reins of control” (The Acts of the Apostles, pp.

310, 311).

 What is the difference between the three verbs walk, jog, and run? (You

may wish to use a dictionary.)

_____________________________________________________________

We have studied that Enoch walked with God, yet Paul tells us in

2 Timothy 4:6-8 that he has run a good race. Read the following texts: Hebrew

12:11, Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 about running the race.

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there

will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way”

(NLT).

“I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete

the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s

grace” (NIV).

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the

prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games

exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath,

but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in

such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave,

so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (NASB).

Next, read these texts about walking with God: Genesis 5:22, Genesis 6:9, Genesis

48:15.

“Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other

sons and daughters” (ESV).

“These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his

generation. Noah walked with God” (ESV).

“Then he blessed Joseph and said, ‘The God before whom my fathers Abraham and

Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day’”

(NIV).

1. What makes our walk with God like a race?

_____________________________________________________________

2. Can you compare our Christian race to a present-day race? If so, how? (Go

back and read Today’s Reading for Sabbath and Sunday if you need help.)

_____________________________________________________________

3. Can you have a conversation and get to know someone while you are

running a race? Explain your answer.

_____________________________________________________________

4. What about while you are taking a walk? What is the difference?

_____________________________________________________________

My Life Today, p. 70

“What young men and women need is Christian heroism. God’s Word declares that

he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city. To rule the spirit means

Tues

day

| Today’s Reading

to keep self under discipline. . . . They need to seek earnestly to bring into their

lives the perfection that is seen in the life of the Saviour, so that when Christ shall

come, they will be prepared to enter in through the gates into the city of God.

God’s abounding love and presence in the heart will give the power of self-control

and will mold and fashion the mind and character. The grace of Christ in the life will

direct the aims and purposes and capabilities into channels that will give moral and

spiritual power—power which the youth will not have to leave in this world, but

which they can carry with them into the future life and retain through the eternal

ages.”

My Life Today, p. 73

“From age to age the heroes of faith have been marked by their fidelity to God, and

they have been brought conspicuously before the world that their light might shine

to those in darkness. Daniel and his three companions are illustrious examples of

Christian heroism. . . . From their experience in the court of Babylon we may learn

what God will do for those who serve Him with full purpose of heart.”

Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, April 15, 1909

“We are living amid the perils of the last days, and we must receive our strength

from the same source as did Enoch. We must walk with God. A separation from the

world is required of us. We can not remain free from its pollution unless we follow

the example of faithful Enoch.”

SO WHAT?

Learning about the people whose stories are recorded in the Bible is an amazing

thing to do. We need to continually stop to remind ourselves that these were real

people. They had hopes and dreams. They were sometimes tired, afraid, and sad.

But, most important, they chose to follow God and become better friends with Him.

And so these stories challenge us and how we live our lives: “In Bible study we

start as flies on the wall, watching God deal with people of the past, overhearing

His words to them and theirs to him, noting the outcome of their faithful or faithless

living. But then we realize that the God, whom we were watching, is watching us,

and that we too are wholly in His hands, and that we are no less called and claimed

by Him than were the Bible characters” (J. L. Packer, Truth and Power: The Place of

Scripture in the Christian Life [Illinois: Howard Shaw Publishers, 1996], pp. 141,

142).

So people such as Enoch, Noah, Daniel, Peter, John, Paul, and many others are not

just stories to be learned for a Bible quiz or exam. They are real-time examples of

what a relationship with God can look like. These people are all different, and at

different times in our lives we might be able to better understand parts of their

stories. But it is the same God who wants to walk with us and to be friends with us

forever.

• Genesis 5:24 ______________________________________

• Genesis 6:9 ______________________________________

• Deuteronomy 10:12, 13 ______________________________________

• Daniel 6:4, 5 ______________________________________

• Micah 6:8 ______________________________________

• Matthew 5:8 ______________________________________

• Hebrews 11:5 ______________________________________

• Hebrews 11:13, 14 ______________________________________

• 1 John 1:1-3 ______________________________________

Look up the texts listed above. Write the name or words mentioned in the text

beside the reference. Here are the clues to help you find what you are looking for:

Enoch

Daniel

walk humbly

pure hearts

Noah

faith

pilgrims or foreigners

Israel

Jesus Christ

The Acts of the Apostles, p. 313

“The competitors in the ancient games, after they had submitted to self-denial and

rigid discipline, were not even then sure of the victory. ‘Know ye not,’ Paul asked,

‘that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?’ However eagerly

and earnestly the runners might strive, the prize could be awarded to but one. One

hand only could grasp the coveted garland. Some might put forth the utmost effort

to obtain the prize, but as they reached forth the hand to secure it, another, an

instant before them, might grasp the coveted treasure.

“Such is not the case in the Christian warfare. Not one who complies with the

conditions will be disappointed at the end of the race. Not one who is earnest and

Wednesday

| Today’s Reading

Thursday | Today’s Reading

persevering will fail of success. The race is not to the swif

t, nor the battle to the

strong. The weakest saint, as well as the strongest, may wear the crown of

immortal glory. All may win who, through the power of divine grace, bring their

lives into conformity to the will of Christ.”

The Acts of the Apostles, p. 316

“The apostle adjured the Corinthians, ‘Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed

lest he fall.’ Should they become boastful and self-confident, neglecting to watch

and pray, they would fall into grievous sin, calling down upon themselves the wrath

of God. Yet Paul would not have them yield to despondency or discouragement. He

gave them the assurance: ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.’”

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

The Bible regularly uses the idea of running a race as a picture of living life as a

Christian. We are urged to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”

(Hebrews 12:1, NIV). Paul often uses this picture in describing Christian growth in

general and his own experience: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I

may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me” (Acts

20:24, NIV).

Paul writes with certainty of his motivation in this race: “Everyone who competes in

the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but

we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25, NIV). For Paul,

the manner of our running and even the ultimate result is a matter of choice—”Run

in such a way as to get the prize,” he writes (verse 24, NIV). We choose the play;

God ensures the result. Those who put their trust in God “will run and not grow

weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Make a list of all the different ways you can learn about God. For example, studying

the Bible, talking with other people, spending time in nature . . .

Over the next week, make an effort to do each thing on your list and record what

you learn about God. Decide if certain activities help you connect with God more

than others, and plan to do those things more regularly for the next month. Keep

writing down the things you learn, and you will begin to see that you and God are

becoming closer friends.

Friday

| Today’s Reading

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Bible texts credited to Amplified are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright  1965, 1987 by

Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright  1958, 1987 by The Lockman

Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations identified CEV are from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright  American

Bible Society 1991, 1995. Used by permission.

1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright  1973, 1978, 1984,

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 

1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,