--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Accepted in Christ, we now run the race…" description: "\"Accepted in Christ, we now run the race 'for the joy that is set before us' rather than 'for fear that comes behind us'.\" — Timothy Keller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/timothy-keller-240_accepted_accepted-in-christ-we-now-run-the-race-f_2952022.png" --- # Accepted in Christ, we now run the race 'for the joy that… ![“Accepted in Christ, we now run the race 'for the joy that is set before us' rather than 'for fear that comes behind us'.” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/timothy-keller-240_accepted_accepted-in-christ-we-now-run-the-race-f_2952022.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/timothy-keller-240_accepted_accepted-in-christ-we-now-run-the-race-f_2952022.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/timothy-keller-240_accepted_accepted-in-christ-we-now-run-the-race-f_2952022.png) > “Accepted in Christ, we now run the race 'for the joy that is set before us' rather than 'for fear that comes behind us'.” [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living for the future joy of Christ outweighs fear of past failure, guiding purposeful action. **In simple terms:** Choose joy over fear. Key Takeaway Pursue hopeful purpose. Themes faith purpose joy Mood inspirational reflective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - church service - personal decision - overcoming anxiety - goal setting Key Concepts Christian theology motivation Questions to Reflect On - What future joy drives you? - How does fear limit you? A Different Perspective Joy may be fleeting; fear can also motivate growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-marathon-never-ceases-to-be-a-race-of-joy-a-race-of-wonder/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [“The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-gospel-of-justifying-faith-means-that-while-christians-are-in/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liddell/i-have-no-formula-for-winning-the-race-everyone-runs-in-her-own-way/) [Eric Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liddell/) > [Many of those who once were so passionately in love with Christ now run about pursuing their own interests. They're burdened down with stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/many-of-those-who-once-were-so-passionately-in-love-with-christ-now/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [“Five boys, playing in the woods one winter day, decided to see who could make the straightest set of tracks in the snow. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/five-boys-playing-in-the-woods-one-winter-day-decided-to-see-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liddell/if-you-commit-yourself-to-the-love-of-christ-then-that-is-how-you-run/) [Eric Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liddell/) > [“My Suzie, also known as Shotgun Suzie, also known as Oh Christ It's Her, Run.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/my-suzie-also-known-as-shotgun-suzie-also-known-as-oh-christ-it-s-her/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“Again; thousands are deceived into supposing that they have “accepted Christ” as their “personal Saviour,” who have not first received Him as their LORD.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/again-thousands-are-deceived-into-supposing-that-they-have-accepted/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [God is good! Had a life changing experience and best of all, accepted Christ into my life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-good-had-a-life-changing-experience-and-best-of-all-accepted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once I accepted Christ I immediately had peace. I still didn't have a place to live, I still didn't have a car, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/once-i-accepted-christ-i-immediately-had-peace-i-still-didn-t-have-a/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [To accept Christ is to receive Him by faith as your Lord and Savior. But, strictly speaking, the great thing to see is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-accept-christ-is-to-receive-him-by-faith-as-your-lord-and-savior/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both of my parents were raised in Christian homes, which was great. They instilled in us that God came first and they showed us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/both-of-my-parents-were-raised-in-christian-homes-which-was-great/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) > [All Dogs Go To Heaven? Sorry, kids. It's only the dogs who've accepted Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-sorry-kids-it-s-only-the-dogs-who-ve-accepted/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [From the moment on that you accepted Christ as your Lord and personal saviour, everything that you do should resemble Christ and put aside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalyn/from-the-moment-on-that-you-accepted-christ-as-your-lord-and-personal/) [Magdalyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalyn/) > [I accepted Christ at a young age, at the age of six years old, and just tried to play hockey and balance that. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-accepted-christ-at-a-young-age-at-the-age-of-six-years-old-and-just/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) ## More by Timothy Keller > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ “24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: \[Alexis de\] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the-following-alexis-de/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible's teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-stay-away-from-christianity-because-part-of-the-bible-s-teaching/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“of temple, presence, and sacrifice; of covenant and faithfulness; of kingdom and victory. 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He's either all of your righteousness or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christ-will-do-everything-for-you-or-nothing-he-s-either-all-of-your/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-give-god-things-in-hope-that-they-ll-earn-us-blessings-we-re/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Explore all 843 Timothy Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More Accepted quotes > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. 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I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [In Quebec City many Muslims have said that they hide their faith because they know that if they don't, if they show that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-pratte/in-quebec-city-many-muslims-have-said-that-they-hide-their-faith/) Andre Pratte > [The rules and principles of case law have never been treated as final truths but as working hypotheses, continually retested in those great laboratories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-rules-and-principles-of-case-law-have-never-been-treated-as-final/) [Benjamin N. 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