“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” (Jeremiah 12:5a)

The verse in Jeremiah is a rhetorical question. If we are tired out by ordinary struggles, how can we answer to God’s call for us to take this struggle to a higher level? The horses here is purely an imagery of a swift speedster. It is a reminder for us that we have a higher calling and a higher goal had been set for us.Yet we are often weary in our struggle because we focus on the lower level of human activities. In that territory we will continue to meet with setbacks and failures Rm.7:21-25. In Christ we have chosen to answer to a higher calling, of living out the life of Christ in us. It focuses on inspiring our spirit rather than to check our flesh. (Heb. 6:4,5) Instead of checking our ways by do’s and don’ts, lets focus on choosing and cultivating the fruit of the spirit. When that dominates, the fleshly impulses falls by the way side.

” 1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[a] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” Heb.6:1,2

Our christian calling is not just about making a better daily life, but to be inspired to live as people who has known God and is known by Him. Our vision of higher rewards justifies our giving up on the lower ones.

“你若與步行的人同跑，尚且覺累，怎能與馬賽跑呢？” (耶利米書 12:5a)

在耶利米書中的這句主題經文是一個反問句。如果我們對平常的掙扎也感疲累，我們怎能回應神的呼召，叫我們去迎接一個更高水平的挑戰？這節經文裡的“馬”，純粹是用來表達迅速的意思。它提醒我們，有一個為我們而設的更高要求和更高的目標，可惜我們經常在我們的掙扎中感到厭倦，因為我們偏好專注於平時的瑣碎事務。在如斯光景中，我們難免將繼續遇見挫折和失敗(羅馬書7:21- 25)。 

在基督裡我們選擇回應一個更高的召命，在我們的生命中活出基督的樣式。要著重振興我們的靈命，而不是著眼於我們的肉身(希伯來書6:4-5）。

乃不是與其檢查自己該做什麼和不該做什麼，而是要讓我們專注於選擇和培育聖靈所結的果子。當這個成為我們生命的主導時，肉體的衝動便會擱置於路旁。

“所以，我們應當離開基督道理的開端，竭力進到完全的地步，不必再立根基，就如那懊悔死行、信靠神、各樣洗禮、按手之禮、死人復活，以及永遠審判各等教訓。” (希伯來書6：1-2)

我們基督徒的召命並非只是過一個更好的生活，而是要生活得讓別人知道我們是認識神，而同時神又清楚曉得我們。我們對那較高獎賞的盼望，足以證明我們值得放棄平凡的瑣碎事務。