"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:" 1 Peter 4:10
"Dennis Kimetto ran 2:02:57 at the Berlin Marathon today to break the world record by 26 seconds and become the first person on any course to run under 2:03." That was Sunday morning's headlines. Talk about a record breaking time! The earliest recorded marathon record (I could find) was set by Johnny Hayes (an American) on July 24, 1908 with a time of 2:55:18. Wow! That's a 53 minute difference. Runners, being the persistent and competitive creatures we are, have chipped away at that record throughout the years, first by minutes and now by seconds. Isn't it amazing what a person can accomplish when they relentlessly pursue the prize, train hard for it and refuse to give up?
Let's face it though. No matter how much any of us want it, train for it or pray for it, we will never come close to even tying that record. Does that make us less of a runner? Absolutely not. As a Christian runner, we are set apart. We do not run to break records, acquire medals or gain notoriety. It is simply our job to run the race allowing God to use us for His will. This may mean adjusting our pace at times and forgoing a "worldly prize". But what good is a medal if you have gained it by failing to help or witness to someone in need? 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says, "Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize." Did you get that part... run to win? eternal prize? Forgo what the world has to offer and run as fast and hard as you can to win that eternal prize... the one that will never "fade away." - and win others over by our actions to do the same!
God made us all different, that is certain. We all have different skills, abilities and gifts and we certainly have different paces and endurance levels. But we all have one purpose - the one He specifically designed us individually to complete. Embrace it, knowing it was God given, and whatever your gift or ability, " Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 4:11. Simple as that... our purpose in life, my purpose and yours, is to bring glory to God and win others over to do the same. I'd say that makes us all winners.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts and abilities You have given us. Big or small, I pray that we embrace them and use them to glorify You. I pray that we never discount a gift we feel is too small to be used. Fill us with an urgency to reach the lost and run the race to receive the eternal prize of an eternity spent with You. In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.
Happy Running!!!
What this world needs - Casting Crowns
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