Walking with God

Chapter Three... Running the Race For St. Paul, running the race is a metaphor for life: starting, staying in, finishing, and winning. He is not a lone runner; he has a role for you on his team. Acts 20:24 (NIV 1984) I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the LORD Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (NIV 1984) 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. Galatians 2:2 (NLT) I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. Galatians 5:7, 8 (MSG) You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. Philippians 2:16 (NLT) Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. Philippians 3:12 (MSG) I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running and I’m not turning back. Hebrews 12:1, 2 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 2 Timothy 4:6–8 (MSG) You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming. Entering: In the starting block He wants you on his team. In this devotion, St. Paul speaks as a retiring coach. You know his history: once he got on track with Jesus, he was God’s marathon messenger. Today, he is checking the fitness of his teammates as they run the race that God has set out for them. Are your running shoes nearby? If you are in this race, your faith and your feet are going to get a workout! Head down to the track and hear what Paul is saying. You know his voice: relentless in passion and persuasion. There he is, giving a pep talk to the runners. People are scattered over the lawn, tightening their shoe laces and stretching. “The way we run a race is the way we live our lives!” he yells to those doing their warm-up laps. Everyone here was up at the crack of dawn, doing sprints, and training for endurance. He keeps reminding them of the prize, Christ Himself. Some of the runners do a trial relay as a team-building exercise. Paul shouts from the starting gate, “Hold the baton firmly; reach out to the next runner; let the next one take over.” That’s the way Christ trained him to move the gospel. Coach Paul is looking for new recruits. Where do you stand? Are your feet itching to be in the starting block? Or is cheering from the sidelines close enough for you? Today he wants prospective team members, with little or no experience, to see the runners in action. Paul will walk through these passages with you. No running. Not yet. You need to get a sense of the course and what kind of training is involved. He wants you on his team. He speaks for Jesus when he says that. Walking: From strength to strength Runners pass by as you walk along the track and listen to Paul. Read all the verses through once. In it, he summarizes his experience. He also calls out to one of the runners and addresses you as a new recruit. He is clearly serious: “Life is worth nothing.… I made my body a slave.… I did not run the race in vain.” There are more examples. Stop after every verse, and try stepping into Paul’s shoes. Could you say the same things about yourself? Take extra time with this. What do you think of Paul’s standards? As you walk along, Coach Paul stretches out his arms to describe the race course. His body language matches the verses; to race is to live. He is so devoted! “Do you know why I run this race?” he asks you. Go through the verses again to understand why a runner runs. Paul sets out Jesus as His example in the Hebrews verse. Now what do you think about Paul’s standards? Dig deeper for Paul’s motivation and his goals. • Why did he get into the race? • What keeps him in? • How does he want to finish it? • Who is watching? Paul uncharacteristically winks and says, “Here’s the shortcut through this passage: Look for Jesus in everything I say and do.” So you check every verse. Then he gives you a new-recruit application form and says, “Write down why you want to run the race.” So you do. What a taskmaster! Tomorrow, the “strength to strength” training begins. Apparently, “strip off the weight of sin and then run” is the first event. As Paul turns to leave he says, “Just keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the prize. That’s all you have to remember.” He heads off at a steady trot. Thanks coach! Following Through: In the relay Some people run for real; others just run in their imaginations. Running to Jesus as the prize is spiritually real. And isn’t running a joy! There is something amazing about having two feet off the ground, even if it is for a millisecond. As you do your “practice laps of prayer” tonight, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you more about the relay. Remember how Christ trained Paul, “Hold the baton firmly; reach out to the next runner; let the next one take over.” In your mind, feel the paperweight of the word of God in your hand; then as you live and move and have your being in Him each day, pass the truth and grace that is in Jesus Christ on to others. Relay complete! Feel the pleasure of your heavenly coach. When you put on your shoes tomorrow, remember that Paul wants you to be a fellow runner, not a competitor. Pray about that next team-runner that you will pass the gospel to. He or she may be a new recruit.