Starting Line or Swamp Dieting Parable .... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 21
When I was a little girl.... and a teen....
when I had been successful for awhile but then slipped back,
my mom wouldn't let me give up.
Wouldn't let me wallow.
Mean ol' mom,  I'd think. Thanking God for her 'meanness' still!

Mom would say, 

  Well,  back to the starting line.                      

I'm abashed to comment that it took me a long time to realize

that she was talking about races.  We never watched horse races,

and the first glorious Olympics experience I had was with my hubby on the tiny black and white TV that we could afford.

Paul knew, just a few years after Jesus was crucified and resurrected,  that the people enjoyed races then.  Footraces, chariot races... depending on what they could afford, racing was fun to watch.  So the people knew exactly what he meant by the "parables"  about races  that Paul provided in several of his letters --

which were, remember, inspired by GOD Himself (2nd Timothy 3:16):

Philippians 3: 8, 12-14

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ .... Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.   Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,   I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

First Corinthians 9: 24-27

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes [for the prize] is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a perishable crown, but we [for] an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as [one who] beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 

2nd Timothy 4: 6-7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

 

Hebrews 12: 1-4

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 

So when we "go backwards" in our attempts

to obey God in "whatevers", doesn't it make sense to "go back to the starting line" -- God's

PROMISES to HELP us as soon as we ask?

That we CAN win the race with His help --

         First Corinthians 10:13

So I change Mom's wording a bit to this: 

         Better to go back to the starting line         

than to stay in the swamp you got yourself into.

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  You KNOW how discouraged I feel about this dieting thing,
and all the OTHER things I try to obey you in...
How discouraged I am when my own choices lead me away from the past successes
I had with your help in obeying you.   Please keep me aware, keep being my loving dad who disciplines me until I do what is best for me.  I pray in Jesus's Holy Name.
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