Break the Tape!

I love watching Track meets, especially the sprints. 

When those athletes get in the blocks and wait for the gun, you know that you're about to get some excitement! Then, BAM--they're off! They use the techniques they've practiced along with raw speed... A few seconds later, someone breaks the tape, crossing the finish line first. 

After the race, they will often talk about 'giving their all', and 'holding nothing back'.

I want that to be a model for my life.

I don't mean that I want to be an 'adrenaline junkie', always having to compete with others, rather I'm simply saying that I want my life to be 'all out', giving everything I've got to the important things in my life--God, my Family, the Church, my Community, and the World.

I want it to be a no-holds-barred attempt to WIN THE RACE! At the end of my life, I want to know that I was 'spent' for God.

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

It seems to me that many of us 'hold back', even in the 'God stuff'. We try to 'manage' our faith as a part of our lives, but they don't want to go too far, or 'get crazy'! 

As the Home Run movie recently reminded us, 'nothing great ever happens when you hold back'!

Near the end of his life, the Apostle Paul--who had traveled around the known world 3 times, enduring much hardship and pain, with the goal of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world--wrote this:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

This weekend, as you know, we have a LOT going on...the Mud Run, the Car Wash, some have Graduation Open Houses, there are parades, festivals...the question is this: Are these things part of 'the race' that God wants us to run? 

Let's run in such a way as to get the prize! Let's pour ourselves out in service and worship to God! Let's impact our world for His glory!

...Break the Tape!

Serving with you,

Pastor Dave