The Race Marked Out for You
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?
So run to win!”
1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT)
God has a race marked out for you. In Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) the Bible says, “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.”
The Christian life is like a race. When you come to Christ, you don’t sit in the stands and watch others run. Faith is more than an attitude. It’s an attitude that leads us to action. How well are you running your race? God wants us to run to win! He has an eternal prize awaiting those who run their race well. We are to run with purpose in every step. That takes discipline and training.
How do we run to win? The writer of Hebrews gives us some running tips that will prepare us and motivate us in our race. Running is as much mental as it is physical. If you’ve ever run a marathon, you know what I’m talking about. You start out well, and you’re running strong. Then you hit a wall where your body begins to challenge you! When you hit the wall in your spiritual race, here are three things to keep in mind.
1. Look to those who have run before you.
The writer of Hebrews describes them as “a great cloud of witnesses” that have gone before us in their race. They finished their race, and their lives encourage us to finish ours as well! Isaac Newton, who was widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time, said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” If you will consider those who have gone before you and ran their race well, it will encourage you to run your race to win! Hebrews chapter 11 is full of examples of those who ran their race well. They are all part of that great cloud of witnesses that ran their race before us.
2. Look to those who are running beside you.
In verse 15 of Hebrews 12, the Bible says, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God….” When you’re running with a large crowd, it’s easy to get tripped up or stumble. If we’re looking out for others running alongside us, we can help each other up. The Scripture says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT) If you want to run to win, look to those who are running beside you.
3. Look to those who will run after you.
The Christian race is a relay race. We’re not running alone, and our success depends on how well we run with others. The most important part of a relay race is when you pass the baton to the next runner. You can be ahead and still lose the race if you drop the baton. The Psalmist said, “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and His mighty wonders. … so the next generation might know them – even the children not yet born and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.” Psalm 78:4-7 (NLT) This is the most important part of our race. If we want to win, we must look to those who will run after us. Set the pace and pass the baton successfully to those who will run after you!
You can win the race marked out for you! It may be a marathon, or it could be a sprint. Only God knows the race He has set before you. If you want the prize, you need to consider those who have gone before you, those who are running alongside of you, and those who are coming after you. Paul said, “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!” 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT)
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.