1359 A Number to Remember

When you are in a road race you are issued a bibb number.  A number is given to each runner so that race organizers can keep accurate records on who finishes and in what order they finish.  For the year 2011 our focus is “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)  The number 1359 is your bibb number.  Why?  To help us remember the basics of the Christian life.
1 stands for one singular passion in life.  The Apostle Paul said, “I want to know Christ.”  This was his singular passion and it is the singular passion of every true believer.  3 reminds us that all of life is conducted in relationship.  This is the way God made us when He said, “let us make man in our image.”  There is nothing in life that takes place outside of three realms of relationships.  Your relationship with God.  Your relationship with other beilievers. And, your relationship with unbelievers.  Relationships are the reality of life.  5 represents the realms  of responsibility that each of us have to run our race in.  The New Testament writings continually refer to these 5 basic arenas of life in which Christians are to “let their light shine”.  The 5 realms are; family, work/school, culture (government/society), church, and spiritual fitness (warfare).  9 is the number that reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit.  The fruit listed in Galatians 5 represents a 9 fold picture of what a person looks like when the Spirit of God is controling his or her life.
Thinking like this helps me make my Christian living practical.  It puts it in a manner in which I can easily think about how, where, and when I am “running the race”.  This number, 1359, will serve as a guide for our study of God’s word through 2011.  How is your race going presently?  In 2011 my prayer is that we all learn to run in such a way as to obtain the prize! (I Corinthians 9:24-27)
See you at the starting line – and at the finish!
Tony