Run!

It's been a really long time since I've posted, and a lot has happened in my life since then, but I have this confidence: God is good! I was reading 2 Samuel 18 (which is in the midst of the story of David and his son Absalom, who is trying to take the throne), and I was struck by the following verses:
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news? “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
2 Samuel 18:22-23

"Come what may, I will run."  What determination is this!  To run, not caring for the outcome, whether or not a reward will be received.  Ahimaaz ran to bring the good news.  He needed no reward, he only knew that he must run, and run with a purpose, so run he did.  And when he ran, he outstripped the Cushite, who ran "knowing" that he would be rewarded.  I think that this can be a lesson for all of us.  If we are Christians, we are called to carry the good news.  May we run with a fierce persistence, not caring what obstacles lie in our paths, or whether or not the news will be well received or we will be rewarded.  We must but run, because it is what we are called to do.  Let us have the attitude of Paul, who says in 1 Corinthians 9:16-18: Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rightsin preaching it."
Amazing!  Paul considers his reward to be the right to refuse any reward or monetary gain for his labors.
Through tears, turmoil and tribulation, come what may, I will run to bring the good news, not looking to the response of those to whom I bring it, but to the response of my Lord and Master in heaven.  When I have finished this life, I want to be able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)  And if it so pleases the Lord to say, "Well done, you good and faithful servant," (Matthew 25:21) may my response be, "I am an unworthy servant, I have only done what was my duty." (Luke 17:10)