Expend your energy

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:28-29 ESV

In an article posted by Runners World on June 02 titled “Here’s Why Your Watch Says You Ran More Than a Marathon,” the question of why so many of us have more than 26.2 miles logged on our smartwatches by the time we cross the finish line was addressed. I, myself, usually end up around the 27 mile mark on certified courses—something I found very frustrating when I was a newbie but now come to expect. In fact, it’s something we should all expect. Why? Because certified courses are measured at the shortest possible route (SPR) to ensure that all runners will run at least the stated distance. But since runners typically veer in and out of water stations, zig-zag a bit on the course and take some corners wide, they end up running farther than the SPR. So when stepping up to the start of your first half or full marathon, the knowledge that you’ll never run a perfect 13.1 or 26.2 mile race is a good thing to have. It will not only prepare you for the letdown you’ll inevitably feel when you’re not done when you thought you'd be done, but will help you to determine when you should expend your last bit of energy for that final push to the finish.

And you know, when it comes to pursuits worth expending our every bit of energy on, we would all do well to be like Paul who made it clear that it was worth "struggling" with all his might to proclaim the Gospel to all who would listen, “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom” that they would be made “mature in Christ.” And you can be sure that Paul had the abundant energy to "toil" to this end—never taking shortcuts or cutting corners but pressing on, despite the time and effort it took—because he didn't have to rely on his own limited energy but could rely on the unlimited energy of Christ who “powerfully works” in all believers.

So remember this friends... you and I will never have a perfect life or a perfect race; no true believer of Jesus Christ ever will. But, despite that, we must strive with every single bit of energy we have to proclaim the Gospel as Paul did to all who will listen. Especially as we see the end days drawing nearer. In other words, it's time for us to make that final push to the finish line. Are you ready?

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we have a duty to share the Gospel with the lost and a responsibility to help our brothers and sisters mature in Christ. And while this may appear like an uphill battle that we just can't win at times, please cause us to understand Lord that we have more than enough energy to "toil" until our mission is complete when we rely on Your strength and not our own. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!