"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
After placing second the past three years, Elisha Barno, who is from Kenya but trains in New Mexico, won the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, 58 seconds. Race officials reported that Barno passed fellow Kenyan Boniface Kongin at mile 25 and held the lead until the end. Elisha later said, "I tried to push and I saw Boniface was very strong. Boniface put on a surge and I was right with him. I feel very happy and feel like I want to cry — to be a champion is not easy."
And while being a champion on the marathon course is certainly not easy, being a champion in our spiritual lives is even less easy. You see, if a champion is defined as a person who has defeated all opponents in a competition, you and I have a most formidable opponent, one unlike any rival we can visibly see, who is always on the prowl and looking to devour us. Paul understood this completely and so warned the church at Corinth to "be steadfast, immovable" and "always abounding in the work of the Lord" if they were to overcome the devil's attacks and make it to the finish line.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that life will not always be easy and that being a lifetime follower of You will require that we stand firm in the midst of trials and trust You at all times. Help us to be champions of the faith Lord and win others to You by our example. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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