Running & Looking

...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...

Extracted from Hebrews 12 : 1 - 2 (NKJV), the above quote was the theme verse for the Sunday School outing held on 17 May, a public holiday in Singapore in line with Vesak Day.  Held at Labrador Park, more than 200 students, with their parents, enjoyed a sunny fun-filled half-day of food, family and fellowship.  Games were played, and bountiful food was provided and eaten beside sun-reflected waters that occasionally showered waves upon nearby onlookers when boats swept too close to the shores.

Prior to the games which naturally involved much running and looking, the children spent some time learning some truths from God's word.  For the very young ones (children up to Primary 2), the Swallow shared the stories of Zacchaeus and Peter.

The story of Zacchaeus can be found in Luke 19 : 1 - 10.  The story tells how Zacchaeus, described as a chief tax collector, rich and short, was running around, looking for Jesus whom he had heard was coming into his town.  Tax collectors were usually not well-liked.  People shunned them as they tended to take more tax than what was required.  Zacchaeus must have heard of how Jesus befriended those that were generally not accepted by others, thus he was quick to seek after Jesus.  Alas, due to his short stature, it was difficult.  His view was blocked by those that were taller, and maybe due to no one liking him, they did not give way to him.  Did he give up?  No!  Thus the link to 'run with endurance'.  Zacchaeus was an example of someone who did not give up easily when looking for Jesus.  In order to see Jesus, he climbed up into a sycamore tree.  His reward?  He reached his goal of meeting Jesus, and from that day on, Zacchaeus was a changed man as evidenced by his declaration to give half of  his goods to the poor; and to restore fourfold anything that had been taken from anyone by false accusation.

The story of Peter can be found in Matthew 14 : 22 - 33.  Peter was a fisherman, a disciple of Jesus and one of the three found in the inner circle of Jesus' friends.  Quick off his mouth and generally described as impulsive, he was a natural leader of the twelve disciples.  This story of Peter happened when Jesus, after performing the miracle of feeding the five thousand, asked the disciples to cross to the other side of the sea while He went up to a mountain by Himself to pray.  Late in the night, when the boat was in the middle of the sea and being tossed by the waves, Jesus appeared before the disciples, walking on the sea.  The natural reaction?  "It is a ghost!", they cried out in fear.  When Jesus proclaimed who He was, Peter was quick to ask Jesus to command him to go to Him.  Given the command, Peter got out of the boat and walked on water.  Wow!  Alas, Peter took his eyes off His Lord and saw the boisterous wind instead.  Though he began to sink, he remembered to cry out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus did.

The children were reminded that they too can be like Zacchaeus or Peter.  Like Zacchaeus, not to give up easily when looking for Jesus.  He is the One who can and who will meet all their needs.  He will be found if they seek Him with all their hearts.  Like Peter, having found Jesus, they need to continue looking to Him to meet all their needs.  In the storms of life, they need to cry out to Jesus for help.  He will save them.

RUN, RUN, LET US RUN by jadeswallow

Run, run, let us run
Run the race today
Looking unto Jesus Christ
who helps us all the way.  (Yea!)

(sung to the tune of 'Row, row, row your boat')

For all believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, may they too be like Zacchaeus or Peter, never giving up but running with endurance the race that is set before them, looking unto Jesus, the One who will always help them so that they may be found faithful even to the end of their lives.  In storms of life, may they remember to turn their eyes back to Jesus, and call out to Him to save them.