RUNNING THE RACE

     Ahhh...the Olympic season brings so many wonderful memories. I can still remember cheering on the USA as a child and wishing I could be there cheering them on in person. My sisters and I were glued to the TV at a young age when the Olympics were in full swing. I'm pretty sure, like me, that they (my sisters) still stay glued to the TV during this season.

     Competition can bring out the best as well as the worst in some people. I was so excited to see the USA gymnastics and swimming do so well. It got me to thinking that these people must devote their entire lives to achieving such a goal. Some even go as far as to move away from family to win a gold metal.

     My sister Andrea was asked by my business in 2007 to give a devotional to our cheerleaders before they took the floor for a major competition. Her devotional has remained in my heart. It's times like these that I'm reminded of running the race.

     Her devotional can be found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
      "²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. " (NIV)

     What a wonderful reminder that we are all running a race. As Christians we get the privilege to work toward righteousness. We also get to live a life eternally with the one who made us. We should all live in a way that gets a prize worthy to lay before our Lord and say, "Everything that I am and everything that I ever had is because of you. Glory to God in the highest." I personally want something amazing to lay at the feet of my Lord. My gold metal will be when I hear, "Good job my faithful servant."

     As you watch the rest of the Olympics remember that these people give their lives to win this prize. We must choose to dedicate ourselves to live for the Lord and the kingdom of heaven alone. God was even so kind as to set us up for gold by giving us Jesus as an example. He's our ultimate coach in how to win the prize. Oh and there's more good news. We have a Father that is powerful enough to get us back on track when we fall or get lost.

     So the question is what race are you running?

(All pictures are from NBCOLIMPICS.COM)