Be Someone Worthy of Following

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

In a heartwarming story titled “Layton High School distance runner breaks 40 year-old record, set by assistant coach,” published Friday, it was reported that Sophomore Parker Harris unwittingly beat a 40 year-old record for the Davis School District track meet last month — coming in with a time of 9:24.8, in the 3,200 meter run.

“I had no idea. I just was going for the win,” Harris said.

Not only that, but he quickly learned of whose record he’d beaten — one set by his own assistant coach, Kurt Black as a member of the Davis High School team, in 1986. His time back then: 9:28.2.

“It was good at the time, but I didn’t think it would last that long,” Black said.

Black delivered the good news not long after Harris crossed the finish line.

“Five minutes later, (he) comes up to me was like, ‘gosh dang it, you got my 40 year-old record,'” Harris recalled. “It’s just so cool to see, I’m following in the footsteps of great athletes. I mean, Coach Black — he’s so awesome.”

And, you know, when it comes to following in the footsteps of great people, the apostle Paul served as an awesome example to the church at Corinth of what it means to run the race for Christ.

So much so that he didn’t hesitate to tell the Corinthian Christians to imitate his walk with the Lord. Paul knew the Corinthian Christians needed examples, and he was willing to be such an example, and a good example at that.

Why could Paul confidently say this? Because Paul knew he followed Jesus closely. He also knew that it was not “Paul” who was a worthy example, but “Paul the follower of Jesus” who was the example.

Furthermore, in saying “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ,” Paul clearly set a limit and a direction on the way we are to imitate others. “Just as I also imitate Christ” has the idea of “follow me as much as you see me following Jesus.”

Sadly, very few people today are able and willing to confidently say what Paul said! Instead, because of compromise and ungodliness, people are quicker to say, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus.” And while it’s true that we must all ultimately look to Jesus as our greatest example, it’s also true that every believer should be an example of what it means to imitate Him.

The situation is even more sad when we consider that our world is in desperate need of godly role models. Hence the reason every believer should make it their mission to copy and emulate Jesus so closely that, if others followed in their footsteps, their footsteps would lead them closer to Jesus.

Can you just imagine the impact a flood of godly role models would have on our world today? You see, this world doesn’t need more Kim Kardashians or Cardi B’s, it needs more Deborahs and more Esthers. And you can be sure this world doesn’t need any more Bad Bunnys or Chris Browns either, but more Pauls, Johns, and Peters.

And that flood of godly influence must start with us. It must start with us imitating Christ so closely that we can confidently, like Paul, say to the world, “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” What a change that would make!

So, vow to follow Christ with your whole heart each and every day my friend. Vow to be completely uncompromising on the truths laid out in the Bible and to live on fire for Jesus so that you can be an example to follow! This will not only benefit you but will benefit all those around you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that all believers have an obligation to be a godly example to those around us, and especially to the next generation. Cause our hearts to be stirred to live out that calling each and every day Lord that we might be the change this world so desperately needs. Help us to imitate You. It’s in your precious name. We pray Jesus amen.

Happy Running!

Jesus Tore Down the Barrier

"Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split," Matthew 27:45-51

"The barrier has been broken! Sub 2! 4:33 per mile." That was just one of the posts that came across my Facebook notifications yesterday that described a moment in history that will not be forgotten. Sabastian Sawe accomplished what many runners have been trying to do for years. As reported by Hunts Post UK, Sebastian not only won the London Marathon for the second time on Sunday but broke the two-hour barrier to make marathon history.

The Kenyan won this race 12 months ago and successfully defended his title but more importantly he crossed the finish line in a time of one hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

His incredible run wiped 65 seconds off the previous record held by the late Kelvin Kiptum, who did so at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Sawe’s time is 10 seconds quicker than Eliud Kipchoge’s record in 2019 – which was not recognised as official because it was not in open competition and he was assisted by pacemakers.

And, you know, while it's mind blowing to witness the tearing down of the once elusive barrier to running 26.2 miles in less than two hours, it's even more mind blowing to read about the moment the elusive barrier between man and God was torn down--an event that was witnessed by many spectators and recorded for us so that we could understand the enormity of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The event occurred on Good Friday at about the ninth hour, specifically, right after Jesus, having been on the cross for approximately six hours (from about 9:00 a.m. which is the third hour until about 3:00 p.m. which was the ninth hour) "cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit." What happened next fulfilled prophecy and changed the course of history for the entire world! "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,"

Did you get that part? The veil of the temple--which was roughly 60 feet tall, 30 feet wide, four inches thick, and said to be so heavy and cumbersome that it required 300 priests to move or manipulate it--was ripped in half from the top down. Only the hand of God Almighty could have done that!

Is that amazing or what? To truly grasp what this means, we must first understand that the word “veil” in Hebrew means "to separate" and this veil was there to separate sinful man from the holiness and majesty of God.

"and the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat." Leviticus 16:2

Behind this veil was the Holy of Holies, or "the Holy Place" and the mercy seat where the blood of the sacrifice was placed that would reconcile God and His people. Only once a year on the Day of Atonement, did a high priest enter this area "inside the veil” and offer the sacrifice.  

"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

"Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." 1 Corinthians 5:7

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-22

And here's where it gets good... From the moment the veil was torn, a priest was no longer needed to bring the blood of animals to atone for our sins. We could now, through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, go directly to our Lord. The blood Jesus shed on the cross allows us to now enter into the presence of God because, by His blood, the barrier was broken! Since Christ is our Passover then, we can "having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus" have unbroken communion with God.

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

That means we no longer need a Jewish high priest, or anyone else for that matter, to atone for our sins or mediate on our behalf. The sacrifice of our Savior on the cross offered perfect atonement that allows us to approach God confidently without the intercession of a priest. Jesus death completely removed the barrier that separated man from God once and for all. 

If that wasn’t enough of a cause to celebrate, consider this…The tearing of the veil reminds us that God desires intimacy with His people and provided the perfect Way for us to experience it daily. Is that mind blowing or what?

So, let us celebrate the One who paid such a sacrifice to tear down the barrier between us and God today and every day my friend. And if you have yet to make the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior so that you can experience this great intimacy for yourself, I urge you to do it today. God broke down the barrier so that all can come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that tells us about the amazing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending your one and only Son to die for us so that we could boldly come to the throne and have a relationship with You. Help the enormity of the sacrifice of Jesus cause us to seek You each and every day and to boldly implore the lost to be reconciled back to God. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus amen. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 
Happy Running!

A PB is Measured by Obedience

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV

In a heartwarming story published by Sky News following Monday’s 130th Boston Marathon, it was reported that two men stopped their own race to help a fellow runner cross the finish line at this year's iconic race.

Ajay Haridasse fell to the ground shortly after the 26th mile mark at the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Aaron Beggs pulled Mr Haridasse to his feet and was joined by Robson De Oliveira - the pair then put their arms around Mr Haridasse to support him to the finish.

After falling down the fourth time, I was getting ready to crawl," Mr Haridasse told the Boston Herald. "Obviously the wheels kinda fell off at mile 26…"

“It was a split-second decision," Mr De Oliveira wrote on social media. "When I entered the final stretch of the marathon, I was just a few meters away from achieving my personal best, but in the distance I saw [Haridasse] collapsing.

"I knew I wouldn't have the strength to help him on my own. In that moment, I thought, 'God, if someone stops, I'll stop too and help him.'"

He said he knew he could help "because two are stronger than one."

Mr De Oliveira also ended up in the medical tent after the race with Mr Haridasse, who was suffering from extreme dehydration.

"The fact not many people realise you gave everything to help and ended up in a worse state than the guy we helped," Mr Beggs replied on Mr De Oliveira's post. "True star."

And, you know, quite sadly many people in our world today would say that De Oliveira made the wrong choice and should have finished the race and claimed the Personal Best (PB) he had worked so hard for. But this is the deal… God doesn’t measure a believer’s “personal best” in the same way the world does. He measures it by our obedience. De Oliveira knew Ajay needed help and he also knew that he, himself, needed another person’s help and cried out to God to provide it.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

And when the Lord answered that plea by sending Aaron, Robson immediately placed his own ambition and goal to the side to look out for the interest of a fallen runner who needed help.

In this way, Robson shone the spotlight on the Lord rather than on himself. He let his light shine before men in the good work that he did—something that glorifies the Father in heaven. And for that I agree that Robson is indeed a "true star".

A Personal Best (or PB) then, at the end of the day, isn’t measured by what we accomplished for ourselves but by what we did for others.

So, live your life to bring glory to God rather than to yourself my friend. Be obedient to the calling He has placed on your life and, in the end, you’ll find that submitting to God’s will rather than following your own is the greatest measure of success. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You don’t measure success in the same way the world does. Knowing that, help us to always choose serving You above going after our own goals that we might lead others to You and be obedient to the commands You have laid out in the Bible.  It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Don’t Miss Out

“‘Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV

In a story titled “‘I Kept Going’: How the Final Official Finisher of the Boston Marathon Motivated Herself to End Strong” published by Runner’s World on Tuesday it was reported that Carlie Siegel crossed the line in the nick of time on Marathon Monday to get under the 5:36 p.m. cutoff time.

When Carlie Siegel crossed the finish line at the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, she had mixed emotions. She was proud of how she overcame multiple trips to the medical tent for low glucose during the race, and how she proved to herself that she was mentally tough enough to make it to Boylston Street, finishing in 6:13:29.

But the end was bittersweet. Siegel crossed the line at 5:35 p.m.—nearly six minutes after the cutoff time to be counted as an official finisher of the race, which is 5:30 p.m. She got her medal, but she missed out on earning a star for finishing one of the seven World Marathon Majors.

Or so she thought.

Siegel found out the next day that the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) had extended the cutoff time to 5:36 p.m. Race organizers made a mid-race adjustment on Monday once they learned that not everyone had crossed the start line by 11:30 a.m., as expected. To ensure all participants had a full six hours to complete the course, the BAA extended the cutoff time by six minutes since the final person to cross the start line did so at 11:36 a.m. (This year, the race went from four to six starting waves, so the BAA made a one-time exception to make sure it went smoothly.)

When Siegel, 38, learned the news on her flight back home to Florida, she started crying...

And, you know, while Carlie shed tears of joy at learning that she had been counted as an official finisher of the 130th Boston Marathon, there will be many people on judgement day that will shed tears of shock, sadness, and disbelief when they hear the words “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” These will be people who genuinely thought they were saved by their motivation to do good works, but in the end will find that they weren't really saved at all. 

You see, these people are those that assumed they would be counted as “official” followers of Jesus because they prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name, and did many wonders in His name. They even called Him ‘Lord, Lord” but, in the end, they will be denied entrance into the kingdom of heaven because they did not have a relationship with Him. 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

And while this might sound harsh, consider that  works can do absolutely nothing to save a person. And claiming to know Jesus can do absolutely nothing to save a person. The Bible is clear that it’s ONLY by putting a persons faith in Jesus Christ that they are saved and ONLY by putting their faith in Jesus Christ that they will be counted as ‘official finishers’ of the race, and worthy of entering into heaven and claiming the prize that awaits every true believer.

“'If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’” John 14:7

So, don’t miss out on the greatest event of all time my friend. Crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon is a great thing indeed, but it will pale in comparison to crossing the final finish line and entering into the presence of Jesus to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And that will only happen if you know the Father because you have known the Son. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that not everyone who says they know You will be known by You. Help us to understand that only those who place their trust in You will be saved, no matter how many good works they do in Your name. Thank You for making the qualifications into heaven so clear that no one can claim they didn't know. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Aim to Run for Life

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let’s get started by talking about the 130th Boston Marathon that was held on Monday. John Korir of Kenya set a new Boston Marathon men's course record of 2:01:52 and Sharon Lokedi set a record in the women's division, winning in 2:18:51. Amazing right? The winning times just keep getting faster and faster!

And while some people might say that running success is measured by the time on the clock, I would say that running success is measured by the miles a person is able to complete over a lifetime.

Consider Amby Burfoot, who won the 1968 Boston Marathon with a finish time of 2:22:17. At 21 years old, he was the first college student to win the race and the first American to win in 11 years. Now, at the age of 79, he completed the 2026 Boston Marathon in a time of 5:17:16. That's what I call exciting! 58 years of running is quite an accomplishment physically and mentally. 

If this has you saying, "Wow, I'd love to be running like that in my later years," you're not alone. That's one of my top goals. Which is the very reason I train differently now than I did in my 20's, 30's, and 40's. If this is one of your top goals as well, check out this article titled "How Can I Stay Fit and Run for Life?" in which Amby, prior to this year's Boston Marathon, shared a few things he’s learned over the years that have ultimately led to his longevity. He started by saying, "Identify what you love about running, get in a groove, and keep coming back to it." Great advice right? And here's what else Amby had to say... 

Run Lots. Some Days Hard. Other Days Easy. Back when I won Boston, I was running 110-to-120 miles a week. Lots of long, slower runs with some intensity mixed in. If I were to do it over, I’d probably try running a bit less. I think I could have achieved the same results with about 70 percent of the training.

Greatness, Single-Minded Focus: I grew up in the era of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll, and I didn’t do any of those things. I was completely dedicated to running. I ran about seven miles every morning and nine miles every afternoon. I was committed to getting better.

Favorite Workout: Back then it was a 15 miler through apple orchards and nature preserves. We got faster as the run progressed so it was pretty hard by the end. But the run was always enjoyable and in a great environment. My training was the antithesis of the metrics-based interval training that took hold a bit later on. We just went out and ran—it was a beautiful thing.

Keep Fueling Simple. It amazes me how many nutrition and hydration products there are these days. Back then, we hardly consumed anything outside of maybe a little water. Although we suffered a lot, we were still pretty fast. Nowadays, I like to take a few gels, especially the kind with caffeine. But I still keep it simple.

Eat Clean. I’ve always been a bit of a food “faddist.” For a while, I was an ovo-lacto vegetarian [eggs but no meat] and ate tons of carbohydrates. When I was running hard, I’d inhale tubs of ice-cream and it burn it off immediately. As I’ve aged, I’ve realized the importance of protein in my diet. Nowadays, I eat less carbs and a lot more protein. Eggs, Greek yogurt, and fish are all staples of my diet; I’ll even occasionally eat chicken. But I still don’t eat red meat.

Mental Strength: We didn’t really talk about “mental fitness” in 1960s. I grew up in a very small community. No one ever told me I would be successful so I was always kind of stunned by winning anything. Eventually confidence builds and success leads to more success. Proving yourself to yourself is really special.

Play to Your Strengths. I learned early on that I didn’t have top-end speed or a fierce kick. I developed my whole racing strategy to punish people early so there wouldn’t even be a “race” at the end. I dared people to suffer as much as I was willing to suffer.

“Recovery” Is Smart Training. While there is a lot of hype about various recovery modalities—from foam rolling, to cupping, to compression, to ice, to heat—there is not a lot of conclusive evidence supporting any of them. Far more important is understanding your body’s natural rhythms and cycles and designing your training accordingly: How many easy days do you need after an intense day? How many weeks can you train hard before taking a break? How often can you race? If you listen to your body and are honest with yourself, you’ll be able to answer these critically important questions.

Transitioning Out of Competition: In 1976, I gave it one last shot at making the Olympic team. I finished maybe ninth or tenth. At that point, I had given my all to the sport for over 10 years. I felt I had left it all out there—not just in that race but in my entire career—and I had no regrets. Hanging up the racing shoes wasn’t that hard.

Amateur Running: I love it! The 120-mile-a-week weight on my shoulders was lifted. I got back into running for the sheer joy of it.

Longevity: Eat right. Sleep. Listen to your body. Don’t be afraid to run less. Right now I only run about 25-30 miles a week.

Running and Writing: The only thing I’ve ever tried to do is to be authentic. There’s been a bit too much fluffy writing about running throughout the years. I just try to paint an honest picture of what it’s like to be a runner and to train hard.

Latest Book: It’s called First Ladies of Running. So many women were doing incredible things for the sport in the 1970s, really transforming it. I was shocked no one had compiled all these stories in a book. So I did! Even though I’m not biologically their “contemporary,” I grew up with these women. I saw them at the Boston Marathon every year. We ran together. I have tremendous respect for them and felt their stories should be documented.

Life-Long Love Affair: What’s really important to me in my running career is not that I won the Boston Marathon. It’s that I’ve run the same Thanksgiving Day road race the last 53 years and I’ve still got a foot in the game and I am leading a healthy lifestyle.

We get so obsessed in running with muscle fibers and cardiac health and we think it’s our nutrition or foot strike or length of our Achilles that is important—but I don’t think any of those things are that important. What’s important is establishing a sound emotional relationship with the sport. If you can keep running…it’s like an old friend. You can revisit, evolve, and recommit in a different way. An old friend that yields massive benefits.

And there you have it friends. Those are some amazing tips from a man who knows a thing or two about running. As long as you're running, you're winning. Which means if you want to be a winner, you'll need to train like one, think like one, eat like one, sleep like one, and recover like one. This is the best way to ensure that you're able to run for life. Happy Running!

Patience Pays Off

“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 NKJV

In a story titled “Unreal! John Korir Destroys 15-Year-Old Boston Marathon Course Record, Running 2:01:52” published yesterday, it was reported that Korir defended his title from 2025, winning by nearly a minute.

For the second consecutive year, John Korir surged in the Newton hills and ran unchallenged over the final 10K to win the Boston Marathon. The Kenyan bettered not only his winning time from last year but also the course record with his 2:01:52. Korir took an astounding 1 minute and 10 seconds off of the previous course record of 2:03:02, set by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai in 2011 when runners enjoyed a strong tailwind for much of the race…

Korir ran patiently early in the race as Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer and Americans Ryan Ford and Alex Maier most often fronted the pack. The pace was solidly in the 2:03 range early on, but the more difficult part of the course was still to come.

Korir’s first real move was to reel in Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu, the 2016 Boston winner who surprisingly took the lead just before halfway, which he passed in 61:43. Korir overtook Berhanu three minutes later, then eased back, allowing Milkesa Mengehsa, Talbi, and a few others to join them. Boston first-timer Mengesha then took a solo lead early in the Newton hills, but Korir easily chased him down in the 20th mile. A 21st mile of 4:36—which includes Heartbreak Hill!—gave Korir a solo lead that he only increased to the end.

Korir earned $150,000 for his win and a $50,000 bonus for breaking the course record.

And, you know, in the same way Korir’s patience paid off in breaking the course record and claiming the prize, our patience pays off in the form of deeper faith and a greater trust in God.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

You see, as David clearly understood, every believer will (not might) go through difficult parts in their spiritual race. And when (not if) they do, they have two choices… they can sprint ahead and do what seems right to them (but in the end leads to death) or patiently wait upon the Lord, knowing that He hears their cry. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

And while this patient waiting can be difficult at times, it helps to remember that the cry of a believer is so precious to the Lord that He inclines His ear for their sakes, not for His. After all, the God of the universe is not hard of hearing. The deep love that God shows for us in this simple act helps us to also remain patient when the answers we seek or the deliverance we pray for is either detoured, delayed or denied, knowing that the God who hears us will direct us to the path that’s best for us.

"And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." 1 Corinthians 9:25

So, if you're running through a difficult part of life's course today, don't give up my friend--and don't lean on your own understanding. Patiently wait on the Lord and follow the path He has laid out for you. Your patience will pay off when you keep the faith and claim the "imperishable crown" that awaits all those who trust God, press on and finish the race.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it abundantly clear that You hear us when we cry and that You care for us. Help us to understand this Lord when we can't comprehend the detours, delays, and denials of this life. Help us to continue running the path that's laid out by You until we reach the end. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Make the Choice to Belong

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” John 1:12 NKJV

In a story titled “Nike Removes Controversial Sign in Boston That Read, ‘Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated’” published last week, it was reported that after online backlash, the brand took down the sign on Newbury Street that was put up ahead of the Boston Marathon.

The sign, which has since been taken down, was up at Nike’s Newbury Street location ahead of Boston Marathon weekend, and it’s been criticized online for being exclusionary.

On Friday, Nike released a statement about the sign: “We want more people to feel welcome in running—no matter their pace, experience, or the distance. During race week in Boston, we put up a series of signs to encourage runners. One of them missed the mark. We took it down, and we’ll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners…”

As expected, the internet reacted to Nike’s ad verbiage accordingly. One guy made his own poster that said: “No matter the speed, forward is a pace,” noting they’re immensely proud of their very own 6-hour finish time and of having raised more than $21,000 for Dana-Farber.

So many people seem to forget that when they talk about Boston’s exclusivity. Some runners are there to race. Some runners are there to finish. Some runners are there to raise life-changing money. All of them belong on the course.

And, you know, when it comes to belonging, there’s no greater thing that a person could ever belong to than the family of God—an exclusive benefit bestowed on all be those who make the choice to receive Him and believe in His name.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

“For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” Romans 10:13

But, unlike the Boston Marathon that has more than one way to gain entry onto the course (running a qualifying time, running for an official charity, using an international tour operator, or through specific, limited partnership programs), the Bible is clear that there is ONLY ONE way to the Father and that’s through faith in Jesus Christ. This is an offer that, you can be sure, is open to everyone regardless of their pace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast.'" Ephesians 2:8-9

This means there’s absolutely nothing that a person can do to qualify for entry into heaven outside of accepting Jesus as their savior. You see, salvation is a gift of God. There’s no work we could ever do to earn it, no work we could ever do to repay it, and no work we could ever do to make us worthy of receiving it. Hence the reason we can never boast in anything we have done but only in what Christ has done for us.

Is that amazing or what?

So, if you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, I urge you to do it today my friend. It will be the best decision that you ever make in your life. It will not only ensure that you are on the exclusive course that leads to eternal life, but will ensure that you will reach the finish line and hear those words “Well done good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that there is only ONE way to heaven. Thank You, Lord, that we don’t have to be good enough to get there on our own, but that we get there by the gift of grace that was freely given to us through the death, burial and resurrection of your son Jesus Christ. Help us to understand that there’s nothing we could do to earn it so we cannot boast about anything, except for your grace and your goodness. Help us to live our lives so on fire for You in thankfulness for that that we inspire others to join us in this race. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!