October 3, 2012

  • Run to Win

    Winning-the-Race

    I see many, many people who start things with flourish and fanfare. Political candidates make their high and lofty promises when they begin their term, folks declare their resolutions in the new year, and the repentant sinner fervently vows to change. How many of these promises, declarations, resolutions and vows to change actually happen? We are so good at "getting off to a grand start," aren’t we?

    However, as I know you will agree, how we FINISH the race is a whole lot more important than all those promises we made when we started! We may start with wonderful intentions, but often along the way, we get bogged down, tired, or distracted and before you know it, we have lost the race.

     Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]. (1Corinthians 15:58 AMP)

    I blush to tell you of the unfinished craft projects I have in a big trunk somewhere. I think I have three unfinished quilt tops, a couple of half-finished afghans and several cross stitch projects. I would bet that many of you also have things like that stashed away someplace! These are just small failures, but they still represent the fact that we were not steadfast in finishing what we started.

    God probably won’t mind too much if I ever finish those quilts, but I know He would not like to see me exercise that behavior in the areas of life that really matter. I want to be steadfast in all that God has given me to do, don’t you? I don’t want to be a quitter. We need to be tough on ourselves. We need to be determined. We need to keep our eyes on the prize and keep running.

    "You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win." (1 Corinthians 9:24 MSG)

    Be steadfast!