So I’ve never really been a runner...at all. It’s just not my thing, the concept of mindlessly running for miles and miles on end is just not appealing to me, nor do I have the endurance to run for miles and miles on end. So this analogy has always been a hard one for me to track with the entire way through...
Ok, let’s say I’m in a race, a 5k, there are hundreds of people running alongside next to me, assuming that I make it to the finish line ( hey a girl can dream right?...it is metaphorical after all) if I’m not the first one to cross it, then I ran for no reason, I didn’t get the prize, all the sweat, tears ( and trust me if I were running a 5K there would be tears) and effort I put into the race would be useless. Yeah I’d get a good work out but in the big picture I didn’t accomplish my goal.
Can I just take this moment to say that I am SO thankful God does’t follow earthly rules because if He did...I’d be screwed. I’m not the best runner and I’m definitely not the best christian that’s ever existed, or the best christian currently on the planet or even in this room. The thing is that this verse isn’t calling us to be the best, but do our best, there’s a difference. We’ve all heard it before “ there will always be someone who can do it better”, but with God it isn’t about what we accomplish for Him, but the heart we have while we are doing it. When Paul talks about running, it’s not physically ( PRAISE THE LORD!) but spiritually, I am to strive to do my very best and rely on the Lord to carry me to and through the finish line. I can try to do it on my own strength, but chances are I’d pass out half way through, not even coming into view of the finish line.
Application: I will spend 30 minutes trying to translate this metaphor into one that I can actually relate to, in an effort to further break this one apart.
No comments:
Post a Comment