How many of you watched the Olympics in the past few weeks? This Sunday, as I watched the closing ceremony (and even the opening ceremony), I found myself overcome with emotions for the atheletes. I could tell from their faces as they walked in that whether they won or lost, medaled or not, they had just accomplished something--something great. I understood how much they had to sacrifice and dedicate to get to this stage in their lives, and how so many people were looking up to them for inspiration and motivation. It was truly moving!
After the 1996 Olympics when the Magnificent 7 women's gymnastics team won the gold for the US, my sister and I (along with millions of other little girls) enrolled in gymnastics. I continued on to compete for another 5 years, but sadly, the Olympics were not a part of God's plan for me.
Instead God had a different "sport" lined up for me.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 says " For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
God's sport for me is to live a righteous life. Instead of running, jumping, or swimming, He calls me instead to endure a race of righteousness and keeping of my faith and longing for His return. Instead of training in the gym, God calls me to train every day wherever I am (work, school, home). Instead of lifting weights or doing pushups, I am to build strength by putting into practice the disciplines He has laid out in the Bible (praying, reading my Bible evangelizing, forgiving). Instead of the Olympics and gold medals, He promises me that I will instead receive an eternal crown of righteousness at the end of my life or when He returns.
I believe this is what He has in store for anyone who is a Christian. As much as the Olympians sacrifice and dedicate themselves to a sport, we, as Christians, should dedicate ourselves with that same passion, fervor, and discipline to a life of living as Christ lived. At the end of our lives, I hope that someone would become emotional not about the worldly accomplishments we have achieved (or not achieved), but instead for the life lived with Christ and the expansion of His Kingdom.
What can you do to be running this race with Christ? Do you need to build more strength and discipline by praying/reading the Bible/or serving others? Do you need to sacrifice areas of your life and surrender them to Christ so that you can focus on His sport? Whatever it is, remember that you are not alone--God is always running right by your side.
Until Next time,
Instead God had a different "sport" lined up for me.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 says " For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
God's sport for me is to live a righteous life. Instead of running, jumping, or swimming, He calls me instead to endure a race of righteousness and keeping of my faith and longing for His return. Instead of training in the gym, God calls me to train every day wherever I am (work, school, home). Instead of lifting weights or doing pushups, I am to build strength by putting into practice the disciplines He has laid out in the Bible (praying, reading my Bible evangelizing, forgiving). Instead of the Olympics and gold medals, He promises me that I will instead receive an eternal crown of righteousness at the end of my life or when He returns.
I believe this is what He has in store for anyone who is a Christian. As much as the Olympians sacrifice and dedicate themselves to a sport, we, as Christians, should dedicate ourselves with that same passion, fervor, and discipline to a life of living as Christ lived. At the end of our lives, I hope that someone would become emotional not about the worldly accomplishments we have achieved (or not achieved), but instead for the life lived with Christ and the expansion of His Kingdom.
What can you do to be running this race with Christ? Do you need to build more strength and discipline by praying/reading the Bible/or serving others? Do you need to sacrifice areas of your life and surrender them to Christ so that you can focus on His sport? Whatever it is, remember that you are not alone--God is always running right by your side.
Until Next time,
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