Run The Race and Focus on the Prize

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: 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 3:12-16

A good friend of mine and I have decided to enter a 5K race. Now, you must understand that I really dislike running – I would much prefer to walk. However, after the weight gained following the birth of three children, I had to resort to measures I had not done before in order to lose the weight.

After spending most of the day Friday with my friend, I came home with the intention on working on my running that evening. I like to run in the dark in my neighborhood so no one will see how silly I look. And silly I really looked that other night.

After dinner, I headed out the front door with my cool new iPod holder for my arm. My headphones and the iPod cranked to John MacArthur’s podcast on Grace to You. I made it two houses before tripping over my own foot and falling down rather ungracefully on the pavement. I didn’t want anyone to see me, so I got quickly got up holding in my tears and walked as fast as I could back to my house – bleeding and stinging knees, stinging hands and a nice hole in the knee of my pants.

I opened the front door and my husband says, “That was fast.” After his welcoming sentiments, I bursted out in tears, “I fell down!” Following a small chuckle, he met me at the kitchen table to examine my wounds. I could tell by the look on his face it was bad as he rolled up my leg pant to check out my knees. “Ouch,” he said. He and my oldest daughter cleaned the wound and bandaged me up. Then my husband said, “Now, go finish that walk.” “What?” I said. I was thinking to myself as I was being tended too, ‘I’m hurt, so I’m going to go to bed and watch Jericho from Tuesday night that was waiting for me on the DVR.’ In my mind, the night was over and I had failed. Thankfully, my husband wouldn’t have any part of such thinking and gently pushed me out the door to do my walk.

So, with iPod in hand, I restarted MacArthur’s podcast and headed off for my nightly walk. My knees stung with every step. I eventually became so engrossed in the teaching on our “sword of the spirit” that I forgot about my hurting knees, stinging hands and finished that walk – even if it was a much slower pace. I didn’t get to work on the run for the race but I did finish my walk.

I have a goal, a mission if you will and that is to finish a 5K race! That is a lofty goal for me and if I do it, that will be a huge accomplishment. Knowing that I am not perfect and fall short every day, I am learning to preserve through the pain – keeping my eyes on the prize at the end of the race.

I was reminded through this experience that this is our walk as a Christian. Our goal during this life (according to verse 14 above) is to attain Christ likeness. Our sanctification process as a believer is ongoing but it can only be fully realized when we receive our final glorification with Christ.

The apostle Paul was passionate in his pursuit of Christ likeness on this earth. The book of Acts outlines several times Paul was beaten and imprisoned for his unwavering preaching of the good news. In Acts 16:22-24, Paul was flogged and beaten then thrown in prison. Yet he continued on. He was passionate about preaching to gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Philippians 3:12 (above), the MacArthur commentary says the “Greek word for “press on” is a word used of a sprinter, and refers to aggressive, energetic actions. Paul pursued sanctification with all his might – straining every spiritual muscle to win the prize.”

Sisters, don’t be discouraged! You are running a race. A race the enemy wants to knock you off the track by bringing stinging pains that may cause you to stay dormant and not grow spiritually. Don’t give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). Press on at the pace of a sprinter with passion, and strive daily for Christ likeness knowing that your heavenly father has given you everything you need to be victorious in this life! 1 John 4:4 says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We can understand that that the final goal of complete Christ likeness will one day be rewarded as the prize of the upward call when our glorification is made perfect by Jesus himself at his side. Run the race with the final destination heaven bound in glory.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 ESV

Dear heavenly father, Thank you that I am your child. Thank you that I know how this race ends. While this world may have trials and tears, problems and hardships – the outcome is still the same. One day, I will reach the prize of purification with you and that is worth all the while to strive for on this earth. Help me to always stay focused on your greater glory and run the race to completion as You have called. In Jesus name, Amen.

Enjoyed the Post? Share...

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Linkedin

email

Digg

Reddit

• ← Purpose with Detour
• God’s Agents on Earth →