Always Run Through the Line
When we are satisfied with where we are, how far we have come, we end up letting off the gas and the whole world passes us by.
“Don’t celebrate too early.”
“Always run through the line.”
“Never back down until the podium.”
These are things I have both heard from my cross country coach and my basketball coach too and have said to my kids over the years. It is so easy to celebrate too early like this young man from one of the most prestigious running schools in the world.
I know as an athlete who was not the top dog in high school, I had to work hard for what I had. When my basketball coach told me that, “the ball is made out of gold and so you better not let anyone else have it,” I took it to heart. But I also did the work off the court that was necessary to make it happen. Being an undersized (5’11” in high school) center going against some absolute monsters, I had to put in the work necessary and never stop fighting. I would face 6’7”, 250# guys that would literally just give up because they knew I wasn’t going to stop fighting for that ball.
When I ran cross country, our coach was nuts. Love him, he helped change my life, but still a little crazy. Not crazy crazy, just someone who thinks it’s fun to run 120+ miles in a week, crazy. He was so big on telling us, “no matter how far apart you are from the lead of the pack or the very next guy, you always push through to the podium” I didn’t make the podium often because cross country was just a way for me to get better cardio for basketball but you better believe I pushed as hard as possible.
We have to have that mindset in the Church. Let’s lean through that finish line. And even if you fall down like the young lady in this video, get back up, keep going and take the whole thing!
We always have the choice to finish the race celebrating, or staying humble, getting back up even if we fall and continuing forward. I want God to look at how I run this race and say “Well done, good and faithful servant”
So how do I get there as someone pursuing after the Lord with all that I have?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us….”
Hebrews 12:1
We are to follow the path toward the Lord, that other Christians have gone through before us. This looks much like the lanes on the track. Find those people that have been on the path that He has laid out for you specifically (by the way the Bible is always THE source to check someones wisdom against). He wants us to be free of sin. Feel light by the fact that we don’t have those burdens weighing us down. Be free of it and run that race with endurance.
“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”
Galatians 5:7
Who hindered or encouraged you to stop obeying? What worldly things encouraged you to celebrate too soon? Stay on that course focused and understanding that the sin (distractions) of this world are so easy to pull you off track. You started well, so finish well. God has a plan that involves you, and you have to step into it. He didn’t want Adam and Eve to do what they did. But He gave His children an option to get back in the lane that He originally intended.
So like the rest of chapter 5 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…” the Spirit, the Word, these are the things that will guide us!
Honestly to stay on track just read all of Galatians 5 (click the verse above and it will take you there) over and over again. It is pure gold and exactly what we need to hear during this race.
This is going to be a fantastic weekend. Run that race. Face forward. Don’t celebrate early. If you fall off course, get back up and keep racing. Blessings on you my friend.
Serve Like Jesus!
James
What am I reading?
“Everybody Always” - Bob Goff
Key takeaways
Every single person matters no matter their circumstance or what they have done to you.
You have the chance to show them the love of Jesus, everyday.
Check out the book by clicking the link below