Training in or out of season

Regular training requires zeal and dedication to sustain it. One’s passion for running will certainly bring him/her to a point where running will not only be a sport or form of exercise but a way of life. A runner continues to run with or without a race at hand. He would continue to conquer hills, hit the pavement for a long run and trek the trails in order to maintain his fitness level. These trainings would prepare him for any up-coming race. A long break in training would certainly slide back one’s fitness level at a point where it will be harder to run again.

In our Christian life, lack of zeal and dedication in doing the will of God would certainly put us away from Him. Like a passionate runner who runs with or without a race at hand, our constant participation in the works for God will draw us closer and closer unto Him. Training ourselves in hearing His voice and understanding his words will bring us to a level of complete trust and obedience unto our Lord Jesus Christ. And when trials come our way we can triumph over it. But if we allow ourselves to be away from Him especially for a long time, it will become harder for us to recognize His voice. It will be harder to walk in His ways.

Let us continue to be in fellowship with our fellow believers so that we can encourage and support one another. Like runners who draw strength from fellow runners. Let us run the race of life with endurance and passion to finish the race. Let us run side by side with Christ.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1-2

TAKE ACTION

“Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” James 1:22

Coaches are teachers. Their job is to instruct players. Great coaches work hard to prepare their players for competition. They study their opponent, and come up with a game plan to produce the best possible outcome. Great coaches are constantly looking for ways to improve. But for all the hard work and effort great coaches give, it’s meaningless if their athletes don’t respond.

Imagine a coach doing his or her best to teach the team, prepare them for competition and then once the athletes got in the game, they all decided not to do what they had been taught. The coach would be upset and the team would be unsuccessful!

James 1:22 tells Christians, to “be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” Sometimes we know what we are supposed to do because we know what God’s Word says, but we just decide not to do it. God wants us to read His Word and listen to Him, but if that’s all we do, then we are forgetting the most important part. It’s in “doing what He says” that we let the world know that Jesus loves them, that He died for them, conquered sin and death, and wants a personal relationship with them. So keep listening to God, but make sure you take action as well.

TRUE JOY

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” Isaiah 12:3

There’s no doubting the joy and happiness that come from hitting that game-winning home run or last-minute buzzer beater. You’re a hero when you succeed – but what about when you miss the shot? It’s easy to be joyful when everything’s going perfect, but what about those times when things aren’t going quite as you expected? Doesn’t theBible teach us to praise God no matter the circumstances?

Learning to have joy in life is a lot like saying wedding vows. We as Christians must remember to express our love and faith “through good times and bad.” Just because life is throwing a few curve balls doesn’t mean God has stepped off the mound. God wants us to learn to find joy even on the not-so-joyous days. Once we can find that type of faith, it becomes easier to give him praise on the hard days.

Remember, God has more than just a few plays—He has the game plan for your life!

- Natalie Creech

A FISHING FINALITY!

“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14

Fishing is a calculating and often temperamental sport. One must figure out exactly what the fish are striking at to be successful. One day you find out plastic worms are working; the next, it’s a deep-diving jig. Other days, good ‘ol crickets are what the fish are feeding on. You never know what the day will hold, and you must adapt each and every time to weather patterns, feeding patterns, water temperature, and a number of other factors.

The human race is just as fickle. Every day holds a different story and every day we experience changing emotions and outcomes. The good news is that God is stable and constant day in and day out. We don’t have to figure God out every day. His Word portrays consistency and is something we can feed on each day, no matter what has changed since the last. Fishing analogies were used many times in the Bible. Remember God’s consistency the next time you hit the pond, and be grateful that God’s promises and love are not like those fish you are trying to catch.
—Eric Jones

BLUE SKIES

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? Psalm 121:1

There is nothing like going to an athletic event outside under with Blue Skies. In North Carolina we call them Carolina Blue Skies. I guess that is what most UNC fans think. When I think of blue sky, I think of the verse that says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?” (Psalm 121:1).

I am amazed at how a blue sky can set the mood for how someone feels. Those cloudy, rainy days may be a little discouraging or make our spirit feel down, but again remember to lift up your eyes. It does not matter if the sun is shining outside or not, the key is the Son shining inside. As we follow athletics, we will sometimes be up and sometimes be down because of wins and losses. But look up—maybe at a Carolina Blue Sky day or a Blue Sky wherever you live—and let that help you remember that your help comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
—Robert Walker

TAKE ACTION

“Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” James 1:22

Coaches are teachers. Their job is to instruct players. Great coaches work hard to prepare their players for competition. They study their opponent, and come up with a game plan to produce the best possible outcome. Great coaches are constantly looking for ways to improve. But for all the hard work and effort great coaches give, it’s meaningless if their athletes don’t respond.

Imagine a coach doing his or her best to teach the team, prepare them for competition and then once the athletes got in the game, they all decided not to do what they had been taught. The coach would be upset and the team would be unsuccessful!

James 1:22 tells Christians, to “be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” Sometimes we know what we are supposed to do because we know what God’s Word says, but we just decide not to do it. God wants us to read His Word and listen to Him, but if that’s all we do, then we are forgetting the most important part. It’s in “doing what He says” that we let the world know that Jesus loves them, that He died for them, conquered sin and death, and wants a personal relationship with them. So keep listening to God, but make sure you take action as well.

WHEN I AM WEAK, HE IS STRONG

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2

I recently heard my pastor say, “Trials don’t make you weak, they only bring out your weaknesses.” Not everything goes the way we want it to in life, or even in sports like when we get a bad call and don’t play as much as we feel we deserve. If we react rashly to a bad call, it shows our weakness of holding our tongue and controlling our anger.

Likewise, when we are treated unfairly by coaches or teammates, for us not to continually give our best effort and attitude towards them shows we are weak in that area. If we remain bent out of shape, it only shows our weakness of trusting in God who ultimately has everything under control.

When we go through trials, many times we blame the trials for our frustrations and struggles, when in fact the trials are only showing us how easily we get frustrated.

Trials are inevitable, but how we react to those trials is up to us. Stay grounded in the Word to overcome these trials and let Christ be strong when you are weak. - Leah Metcalf

ESTEEM ENGINE

“‘Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the LORD. ‘This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.’”

Isaiah 66:2

Sports provide the opportunity for glory. Single-handedly lead your team to victory, and the crowds will chant your name. Dominate your opponent, and the autograph lines will stretch for miles. Excel, and you will be called “MVP” and “All-Star.” Hockey fans hail “The Great One,” and many a boxer fell at the feet of “The Greatest.” These nicknames affirm that athletes can quickly find themselves flooded with praise. Everyone loves a winner, right?

Wrong. According to 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, God prefers losers. I am not saying He has reserved a special place in heaven for the 1991 Prairie View football team (they were in the middle of an 80-game losing streak), but He does choose to call the unwise, the non-influential, the foolish, and the weak. By giving wisdom to the foolish and strength to the weak, God obtains glory for Himself. That is the whole point of our existence! Sure, Wayne Gretzky and Muhammad Ali were fine athletes, but God has the only valid claim to greatness—He created the universe! With this proper perspective, it is easy to see that nothing we do of ourselves is that great. But when God does something great through you, give the honor and praise back to Him. Be a glory deflector!

—Alex Warner

Who Moved?

“If from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

My personal walk with Christ has never been easy. I’ll be the first to admit that I have fallen more than once. Still, as unsteady as I once was in my servitude for the Lord, His love for me was always pure and perfect. Christians, like athletes, are prone to slumps—times when things aren’t going the way the athlete would like it. The difference between a slumping Christian and a slumping athlete is that we as Christians can always know who is at fault. We are.

As Christians we must remember that God’s love for us remains unconditional through our spiritual wins and losses. Even when we stray from him, he knows every secret of our soul. God is everywhere and the temple of the Lord has a permanent address in our hearts.

So when we feel we have lost touch with God, we must ask ourselves: Who moved? The answer. We did. We caused the slump.

—Emily Briggs

Jitters

It will only be a matter of days and the Condura2010 will be hosting many first time marathoners in the country including myself. At this stage, many of us may feel anxious, excited, tensed, afraid or mixed feelings. As I told Swthrt, I have never felt this way since my very first road race (my first 5K at Mizuno Run 2 years ago). I just pray and hope that this feeling of uncertainty, excitement and whatever will do me good on my first step to my first full marathon race. In line with this, let me share you this insight from Sports Spectrum Devotional. The World Series is like the Condura 42K (or your first 5K, 10K, 21K). All the people you know are keeping their eyes on you. Here it is,


“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:3

BIG LEAGUE JITTERS

It’s the World Series—the epitome of the “best” in baseball. You are a key pitcher in your team’s lineup. All eyes are on you. It’s a situation that just begs for your nerves to take control. How do you get rid of those big league jitters? If you are Orel Hershiser in the 1988 World Series, you sing hymns.

Not exactly your normal sight in a major-league stadium. That’s what calmed Hershiser down, though, singing praise to his Lord. We all have what we consider “big league jitters” now and again. What calms you down in your times of stress? Maybe you run, or read the Bible. I know when I get to the point of “What now?” I take a moment and just pray. If I’m scared, I can feel my fear melt away. If I’m worried, suddenly the problem doesn’t seem as bad. It’s just the simple fact of knowing that God is there and listening to me—no matter what I’m going through. I am not alone—and neither are you! —Natalie Creech

Hearts Revealed

The baby Jesus was only 40 days old when Simeon saw the blessed Infant. Old Simeon held the Child and prophesied that with the life of Jesus, “the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). Thoughts are the inner feelings which we can hide from other people. Our hearts the most secret hiding places. But there is nothing we can hide from God; and with the birth of Jesus, even the secrets of men’s hearts will be exposed.

Let us read Luke 1:26-29. In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel,”since I am a virgin?” (NIV)

Even before Jesus was conceived, the thoughts of people’s hearts started to be revealed. These verses reveal the thoughts of Mary as the angel Gabriel appeared to her. Mary was troubled as the angel greeted her with a very unique compliment. She was not at ease with such a compliment as being highly favored by the Lord. We can easily sense that she was truly a very humble and unassuming person.

Upon hearing that she would bear a son, she dared to ask, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” She was engaged to be married to Joseph, but as yet, she never had any sexual relations with any man. She posed her puzzled question to Gabriel, the mighty messenger of God. To question the powerful angel Gabriel is dangerous. Another person named Zechariah suffered for doing so. Zechariah was already very old when Gabriel revealed to him that he would have a son. He questioned Gabriel how he could possibly have a son in his old age. The angel Gabriel rebuked him by saying, “Because you do not believe one who stands in the presence of God, you will be dumb until all these things have happened” (Luke 1:8-20) Thus Zechariah could not speak until his son, John the Baptist, was born.

Mary asked Gabriel a similar question, “ How can I have a son when I have no relations with a man?” But Mary was not rebuked. Why? It is not wrong to question God when the inquirer is intent on finding out the truth for the purpose of obeying that truth. Mary asked with that kind of sincerity: when the truth is verified to be coming from God, she would surely obey. Gabriel would not rebuke her because of that. This shows us that Mary had a right relationship with God. A right relationship with God is brought about by habitually listening to what God says and obeying readily. Gabriel had described Mary as having “found favor with God”. Therefore, instead of rebuking Mary, Gabriel explained everything to her. She, in turn, submitted to God’s will (Luke 1:35-38). The news about Jesus’ conception revealed the thoughts in Mary’s faithful heart.

Let us read our next verses Matthew 1:18-25. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to pubic disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which neans, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (NIV)

Joseph was a just and righteous man. For him, what was right was right; what was wrong was wrong. But he was also extraordinarily considerate and kind as proven when he discovered that Mary, his fiance, was pregnant. The child was not his. The shocking discovery must have hurt Joseph. He could easily have retaliated by exposing Mary to charges of adultery. She would surely be found guilty and thus be stoned to death. But Joseph chose not to hurt Mary and ruin her reputation. We can see that Joseph’s thoughts were very merciful and kind because he did not want Mary to be made a public spectacle. He decided to quietly cancel their marriage plans by telling her privately. This revealed Joseph’s heart as very merciful even when in pain. God was likewise kind and considerate to Joseph. He sent the angel Gabriel to speak to Joseph in a dream to help him understand that all of this was the will of God.

Now we will see God’s heart being revealed. Joseph and Mary travelled to Galilee to register because of a Roman decree. Mary was already in her advanced stage of pregnancy and about to give birth. And they arrived in Bethlehem.....

Let us read our next verses Luke 2:6-7.While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Joseph and Mary were not prepared for what they encountered in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was jampacked with people who had come to register. The couple could find no place to stay in nor any place where Mary could give birth to her child. They only found a stable where the animals were kept. Jesus was born in that stable. And Mary tenderly and lovingly wrapped the Baby in swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth wrapped on babies in order to protect the fragile newborn infants. Here, God’s heart was revealed further. God came down in the form of the baby, in a humble and delicate condition, being wrapped in those swaddling clothes. He was placing Himself in human hands, as represented by the swaddling clothes. God’s faithful like Mary and Joseph will respond with love. They will render their total devotion to God with all their hearts, however difficult their lives might be.

When Jesus touches the life of anyone, that person’s life will never be the same again. The lives of Mary and Joseph were forever changed. Their hearts were indelibly marked by the arrival of the Baby described as “God with Us”. And their hearts’ love for God was revealed for all of heaven and earth to see. God had come down to be with us forever. He will expose all our hearts by His presence. That is a blessing, isn’t it?

Delivered during one of the Sunday Services of Hosanna !, PCED Hostel, UP Diliman. Quezon City.

DO YOU MIND?

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (King James Version)

Have you ever tried to put up a tent in the middle of a storm? How about inhaling while under water, or in a smoky room? Well, there is nothing wrong with putting up a tent or inhaling, but the right thing at the wrong time can be just as devastating as the wrong thing at the same time.
The same principle applies to life and our minds. Try making a decision in the heat of the moment, or try calmingyour own mind to understand one person in a room full of shouting babies.

The Bible says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Therefore, it is imperative that we set our minds on this: God is God, He is in control, and no one or thing is greater than He that dwells within us. So, set your mind, and do it before anything happens and before the heat of the battle or before you hear thousands of other voices. Set your mind on Him, and the truth that He says about you. Then and only then can you truly walk in the midst of any situation and be confident with the right mindset. - Eric Harris

ACCOUNTABILITY

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24

A friend and I go to the YMCA every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We lift weights, run on the treadmill . . . and we run our mouths. Sometimes the mouth gets the better workout! We also spend time encouraging each other and lifting each other up in prayer. When you say, “Let’s work out at 5:00 am,” most people would say, “No way!” And believe me, many days I travel or stay up late on the phone with clients, so 5:00 am comes too quickly. Then why do I go? Accountability! I know my friend will be there, and if I don’t go, the phone will ring, asking me where I am and giving me a hard time. I go because of the accountability.

Do you have anyone who holds you accountable for your spiritual walk? The Lord commands us to encourage each other and pray for and with each other. So find a friend, and whether it is at the YMCA working out or in a small group, hold each other up.
—Robert Walker

AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:20

When I hear the word “ambassador,” I think of someone who represents a place or someone else. In II Corinthians 5:20, we all called “Christ’s ambassadors.” This means that we are representatives of Christ and we thus have the responsibility of sharing and imitating Christ here on earth. Athletics offer a great tool for us to reach others and impact their lives for Christ, especially for those in leadership positions.

Sometimes people view athletics as a separate entity of their lives, but we should also let our light shine through what we do in sports. Are you representing Christ in how you perform in athletics? It is so easy to get caught up in the pressures of sports. We start to focus on our name or reputation as a player and increasing our stats that we lose sight of our true focus of representing Christ’s name; so let’s keep that first priority. - Leah Metcalf

NEW EVERY MOURNING

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:22

The University of Evansville basketball team was excited about its first season competing in Division I. The Purple Aces were packed and ready for a road trip to Nashville for a game against Middle Tennessee State. Twenty-nine people boarded the charter plane on December 13, 1977, but because of rain and fog, the plane crashed two minutes into the flight. No one survived. When a tragedy like this occurs, our human nature seems to react by asking one of two questions: 1. Where was God? 2. How could God allow this to happen? We doubt either His omnipresence or His omnipotence.

The author of Lamentations witnesses God’s judgment in the form of death and destruction among His chosen people, yet he fully comprehends that God’s mercy can extend beyond His wrath. Though we aren’t capable of praising God with our own strength in the worst of times, the ability to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thes.5:18) is definitely a gift from the Holy Spirit. Picture your worst-case scenario. Maybe it has already happened. Do you believe that God is there in the midst of agony and chaos? Ask Him for clarity so you might see through the sadness to witness the ever-present manifestations of His love, and revel in the newness of the morning.

—Alex Warner

THANK YOU FOR THE UPS AND DOWNS

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

Thanksgiving may be a month ahead and months behind, but there’s no reason to stop thanking the Lord. You hear all the athletes on television say how they thank the Lord when they win. Why not thank him when you lose? Sure, winning’s great—the adrenaline, the excitement—but it takes a real winner to thank Him when you lose. In fact, don’t even look at it as “losing.” Look at it as transforming a seemingly negative situation into a positive one. Thank the Lord that you had the opportunity to compete in something you enjoy. Thank Him for having the passion for a
team—maybe you play for them or maybe you’re just the number one fan. Either way, you have a passion that you can be thankful for. Be thankful for the humbling experience that comes with losing. Soak up all that you can learn from the loss. That’s not to say that winning is bad—winning is fantastic! Just keep in mind which team you’re playing for, through the ups and downs.

—Natalie Creech

CHRIST IS #1

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

Training for track is often physically and mentally grueling. I won’t lie to you, I don’t like pain, and many times I wouldrun slower in practice just to make the pain bearable. Of course, not giving my all in practice was completelydetrimental to my success as an athlete. But if success meant pain, I didn’t want it.

It can be easy for us, as Christians to “run slow” in our race for Christ. Often we get attached to earthly possessions and have trouble letting go of the hindrances in our lives. Work, family and even entertainment become so important that our relationship with Christ is no longer a priority. When Christ is not a priority our growth as Christians is stunted. I couldn’t improve on the track unless I was consistently giving my all. In the same way, we can’t improve as Christians if we don’t seek Jesus with all our hearts. In order to do this we have to let go of those earthly desires andpriorities, however hard that may be.

Being a Christian is not always easy, but the success of meeting Jesus Christ face-to-face is worth any earthly pain you will have to endure!

-Brooke Thompson

GIFTS

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:4-6

As a runner, I was always a good finisher. In the 400, I used that last ounce of energy to pass people on the back stretch. I was a closer. But my start was a completely different story. I almost always started off too slow and spent the entire race catching up. There was another girl on my team who had the exact opposite problem. She was a great starter, but could never hold on in the end. Although we had completely different running styles, we ran about the same times. We began to practice together and we fed off each other’s strengths. She came out strong, so I learned to do the same. My start improved tremendously as did her finish.

In life, God gives each of us different gifts- unique ways to share our faith and love in Christ. Working together with our special gifts, we can accomplish more as Christians. You should always realize the great potential of using your gift to encourage the growth of others and yourself.

- Brooke Thompson

ETERNAL VICTORY

“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.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you ever catch yourself completely caught up in sports? When it’s your favorite team playing, sometimes everything around you can become invisible. While it’s great to support your team, we can’t forget what is important in our lives. You might be the star athlete on the track team or the baseball team’s biggest fan. Yet that connection should not come before your relationship with God.

When true discouragement comes in life—real problems that go beyond how a sports team is doing, God will be there to help. He can build you up and encourage you in ways that others cannot. He is not fickle like fans who give up on their team, or coaches who berate their players.
All the hard work we put into sports should never be greater than the effort we pour into serving in God’s Kingdom.

After all, we are gunning for the ultimate prize. The feeling of accomplishment and excitement after your favorite team wins the biggest game of the year is nothing compared to the everlasting riches in heaven.

—Natalie Creech

Running A Marathon*

READ: Philippians 3:12-21

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:14

The Comrades Marathon, which began in 1921, is the oldest ultra-marathon. Covering 90 km (56 miles), it is held annually in South Africa. Bruce Fordyce completely dominated this marathon in the 1980s, winning it nine times between 1981 and 1990. His 1986 record of 5 hours 24 minutes and 7 seconds stood for 21 years before it was finally broken in 2007. It’s amazing to me that he has continued to run in this race every year.

In a sense, we as Christians are all in a marathon. It takes endurance to run and finish the race of life. When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he spoke of how he was “reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (3:13) and pressing on “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (v.14).

Our Lord Jesus has set an example of how to run life’s marathon. The Bible tells us that Jesus “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). Despite “hostility from sinners,” He completed His race (v.3).

The secret to finishing well is to look forward to the joy that awaits us after life’s race—eternal life with Him. — C. P. Hia

I ran to meet Him when I heard His call—

The Savior’s arms were open to receive;

And I’m still running since I gave my all,

Inviting others also to believe. —Hess

The Christian’s race is not a competitive event but an endurance run.

* Swthrt, in her daily devotion, read this article from " Our Daily Bread".