The Grace of God is With every Believer

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV

In a story published by CBC Sports yesterday, it was reported that Canada's Marco Arop will aim for his third consecutive 800-metre victory in the Grand Slam Track league on Saturday in Philadelphia. His success, according to his coach, can be traced back to his willingness to push his body to its maximum effort, something he displayed during high school workouts in Edmonton and is continuing to display now. Most successful track and field athletes don't shy away from the pain of training, but Arop understands the pain pushes him a step closer to his ultimate goals, according to his coach. "It means he's determined and committed to the craft, and he is not going to let anything get in his way," said Chris Woods, who has worked with Arop since becoming head track and field coach at Mississippi State University in 2019. The 26-year-old Arop can buffer lactic acid, or hurt longer and more, than anyone Woods has seen in 12 years at MSU. Woods, who began coaching at the U.S. collegiate level in 2009, has guided several track standouts…but none like Arop. "He's a once-in-a-lifetime athlete.”

And while athletes such as Marco may be unusually rare, believers who are determined, committed, and unwilling to let anything get in their way of serving Christ, should be commonplace. You see, as Paul clearly knew, “the grace of God” makes us what we are and by “the grace of God that is with” every person who follows Jesus, we can and should be known as people who work harder than anyone else. Despite the suffering, pain and hardships we might have to endure along the way, we are press on as we count our afflictions, troubles, temptations, and trials as pure joy—thereby ensuring that the grace toward us is not in vain. 

So vow to run the race with all that you have my friend! Whether God has called you to a sprint or to a marathon, keep running as fast as you can and serving Christ with all that you have. Don’t shy away from the pain you will experience along the way either, but boast in the One who gives you the strength and ability to overcome it and make it to the finish line. 

Heavenly Father, we thank You for giving us everything we need to run the race and complete the mission in front of us. Help us to embrace pain and suffering for what it produces in us Lord so that others will see our joy and be inspired to follow the One who inspires it. Help us to be found faithful at every mile until we reach that final finish line. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus amen. 

Happy Running!