“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.” - 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
Last night, I did something I hadn’t done in a few years: run. It was a beautiful evening, with the temperatures a little cool—the 3-mile led through quiet residential neighborhoods and a large pond. There were also some gently rolling hills, which, for my body, still unaccustomed to running, were challenging, and at times, I had to slow from a jog to a walk. My time was slow, but last night, that didn’t matter; the point for me was to see if I could go the distance. This verse popped into my mind as I sat with friends after the run. It didn’t matter that I finished near the end of all the runners; what mattered was that I didn’t give up.
I don’t know if Paul was a runner, but he knew a lot about keeping faith and trusting God. He acknowledged that there would be obstacles, but what mattered was to keep on running—to press on through the spiritual stitches in our sides, aches in our muscles, and gasps for air. Whether we come into God’s kingdom first or last makes no difference, but we must continue to run the race as long as He gives us breath with steadfastness.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the strength and perseverance you give us fresh each day. Help us to remain faithful and press on through whatever challenges today may bring. May we run with faith and determination always keeping in mind the joy that awaits. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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