Run to Win

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

We are not in the business of doing a ministry just to have it. When you are dealing with the constant threat of life and death you run to live, you run to daylight, you run to win. That ticking time bomb of addictive behavior could blow up at any minute, so we run to receive that prize that lasts forever. And, while we are running it, we run with purpose and passion.

That may sound pretty intense for a Thursday morning, but as life shortens for me, I realize that every moment of every day counts more urgently than ever. And if we can spend it being a positive influence on our families and the human race, we have accomplished one thing. But if we run to lift up the banner of Christ, we run the ultimate race, like the Olympics or World Cup of faith!

And, as we run, if we bring others along with us whose lives have been transformed in this running, we feel the hand of our ultimate coach on our shoulders constantly encouraging us to run with His purpose, which is always fulfilling. However, if we run for ourselves, and we see beside us things and trophies of running solo, we will never be fulfilled we will always want more, we will always run just to keep on running.

So, we must run to win in such a way that often feels like we are giving up a part of ourselves to someone else to help them keep pace with us. But we do so after the example of Jesus, who was always giving up something of himself to help others, but always keeping his eyes on the prize.

He ran to win, and so should we!