Devotional:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

— 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

When you run a race, what is the goal? What are you trying to achieve, second or third place? No way! The goal is always to win the race, right? No one comes up to the starting line thinking “Man, I hope I get second place.” If we didn’t come to the race with a winning mindset, what would be the point? I know, some of you are thinking “well it’s not all about winning…” bologna. Because even if the goal was just to beat your own record, that’s still winning!

Everyone who’s ever been a parent at a track meet knows. They are long. Reagan, our 12-year-old, decided to do track last year in 6th grade. She did pole vault, the 200 meter and the 100 meter. This meant, mommy and daddy couldn’t really pop in at the end of the meet or leave after pole vault at the beginning. We were in it for the long haul. But we did it because we love her, and nothing was more important to us than cheering her on. And for those four minutes out of the four-hour meet, that’s what we did.

Sometimes you do win. And sometimes, there are obstacles that keep us from first place. Deciding to skip practice or training to go be with your friends or go on a date could be it. Or maybe there was an illness that set you back, or an injury. Or maybe the burnout and exhaustion were just too much so you quit. Or did the late-night parties and lack of discipline with your schedule make you sleep through that 5:00am alarm on training day? Not all these reasons look the same. Some are choices, right? But not all are choices. You can’t force your way through an injury or illness.

The obstacles that keep us from being all-in aren’t always major, life-altering things. Maybe it’s just a day-to-day routine you’ve gotten into. You know, the merry-go-round that you are afraid to jump off but it’s kind of making you nauseous and dizzy because you can’t figure out how to stop it?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

— Hebrews 12:1-2

As Christians, we are all running a race and Jesus is our prize. We are in that first lane, eyes forward, Jesus at the finish line. There may be distractions in lanes two-eight but we already know that because of the blood of Jesus, we win, no matter what.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we cheer for our teammates. If they fall, we help them up so they can keep running. If they slow down, we cheer even louder. When they feel like giving up, we remind them of the reason they are running the race. Races aren’t meant to be run alone. It is the crowd and the witnesses and the teammates alongside us that help get us through. If no one was at your race, just you and the track, would you run?

List some of the distractions in your life that cause you to take your eyes off Jesus.

Out of that list of distractions, pick one that you can remove for the remainder of these weeks leading up to Saturated. Maybe it’s social media, Netflix, or a weekly golf session that turns into a late night out with the guys, that nightly drink that turns into 4 drinks…

Are you running your race alone? Why?

Think of two people you can call this week and ask to run alongside you. Maybe a disciple group member or a mentor.

Remember, an animal that strays from the herd becomes vulnerable to the predator. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lost, just weak and vulnerable. The one who stays in the middle of the herd, surrounded by the herd, is the one who is most protected from the enemy.

Lord, thank You for my herd. Thank You for your protection from the enemy. God, reveal to me the thing that I need to lay at Your feet so I can be all in and have a deeper relationship with You. Amen.