October 15, 2012 (Monday)
Baseball is moving quickly toward the World Series. The final four teams have surfaced, and soon there will be only two. At the end of the Series, only one will remain as world champion.
The Apostle Paul gave these words of encouragement to us: “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 someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV). He later wrote: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV).
The author of the Book of Hebrews introduced us to an impressive roster of heroes in his Chapter 11. His list included people who had successfully run the race of life, whose faith never failed but grew stronger as they exercised it more. Then the writer drew this lesson for us: “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 NIV).
If you are a Believer, you are on the Lord’s team. Is Jesus the model for all you do?