Running The Race
by Barb Bunnell

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.”  1Corinthians 9:24

I am not a runner.  I wish I was, but I’m not.  To me, running a marathon sounds like excruciating pain.  

As Christians, we are called to run the race of faith.  All of us are to run as to get the prize.  But I’m not a runner!  

No matter – I put my feet on the starting line, the gun goes off, and I start running.  Not even minutes later, I’m stumbling over my feet and scraping my knees on the pavement.  Others who joined the race later are still running at a full out sprint.  I cry out in agony, “God, what am I doing?  I can’t do this!”  

As the words are coming out of my mouth, I see a man walking up to me.  His face is kind, but not necessarily attractive.  His presence is calming and He offers me a drink of cold water.  He heals the wounds on my knees.  When I drink, I feel His life inside me. He says to me, “On your own, the race is impossible. But if I live in you, the race will be won by my strength.”  

As He speaks, He shows me the wounds in His hands and feet and on His back and sides.  “My strength is greater than that of this world,” he says.  “Open up your heart and life and let me come in.”  Although I do not completely understand what He means, I still open up my life and let him in.  He lifts me up.  We finish the race.  I have won the prize. 

The race is our faith life.  God calls us to lead others to Christ and to be an example of His love – but we can’t do it on our own.  God knows this and sends His Holy Spirit to live in us and give us strength and endurance beyond any we could find in this world. 

Run the race – but run it with the strength of Christ Jesus. 

Dear God, help me to open up my life to You each day.  Let me drink from the water of life and fill me with Yourself.  Teach me how to run the race of faith.  Build up my endurance – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Pick me up when I fall.  Cheer me on when I am weary.  Embrace me in Your love.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.