Running the Race
by Ann Stewart
‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Eric Henry Liddell, the Olympiad whose life was depicted in “Chariots of Fire,” was born to run, claiming, "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Eric’s Scottish missionary parents told him that winning a medal wasn’t important but how he ran the race of life was. His father wanted Eric to run to get the prize: God’s approval. His mother encouraged him to run for the glory of God... [read more]
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Winning...
Dear Friends,
My girls recently swam a "B" meet. A meet for kids who usually don't earn a first, second, third, or fourth place ribbon. Because most "A-team" swimmers didn't swim, kids who had never earned a ribbon suddenly became winners, proudly carrying their ribbons. |
You can swim in a faster heat and come in sixth place, or you can be placed in a slower heat and win. Most kids would rather win a slow heat than lose a fast one. Even when you're the top of the bottom, you feel like a winner.
Isn’t that true of all of us? Don’t we all want to be winners? But we often make the mistake of looking around and comparing ourselves with others, when God loves us with or without earthly ribbons. I'm thankful that in heaven one day "when my trophies at last I lay down," my earthly ribbons will seem worthless compared to the joy of seeing Jesus' face. Then we will be complete. Perfect. That will be enough. |
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What about now? How can we live today, understanding we are winners with Him already? How can we better understand that He crossed the finish line for us long ago and our place on earth isn’t as important as the place He is preparing for us in heaven?
This August, as we watch the winners stand on the Olympic platform, let's consider how God wants us to run the race now. The Olympics begin on 08/08/08; read on for a devotional about a long ago Olympic winner who knew how to run the race.
Victoriously,
Worth Watching/Reading: - Ann Recommends: |
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