Monday, April 22, 2013

The Race of Grace

UV 732/10,000 The Race of Grace “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” I Corinthians 9 v 24 We have opted out of the ‘rat race’ that produces ruthless competition to get ahead of others. We have been chosen by grace. We should run with the knowledge that we are now involved in a ‘race of grace.’ Though in a race, only one gets the top prize, in the race of faith or the race of grace, each one according to the way he runs will get the crown of eternal life that awaits him or her at life’s finishing line. Life is not a hundred meters sprint- a test of speed. It is rather a marathon- a test of patience and endurance. We need to run with the baton of faith in our hand, ready to hand it over to the next generation. In the race of grace, God desires to declare each one of His faithful - a winner. But, we need to run in a particular mode. We need to run, not heaving, panting and complaining of how long and gruelling the race is proving to be but thanking God at every step. We need to renew our strength regularly by dipping into the glucose or energy the Lord provides in His Word. We need to run with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the One who is waiting with the eternal crown to be given to us. His radiant, smiling, glorious face should always be in our minds as we run. To meet with our needs on the route, we should use our reserves of faith. Faith is the only currency we carry on us, the Euro that we can use to purchase all that we need on our journey on Earth all the way to Heaven. We should run with focus on finishing well lest we get distracted on the way and fall by the way-side. Indeed, there are many people and many things waiting on the sides, urging us to give up, saying, “ It is not worth the effort.” But, Jesus the best life coach and mentor one can ever get has already taught us all the lessons we need that we are not discouraged. We run with an aim to please Him. An Olympic runner trains for a decade or more to win a gold medal that will lose its lustre in a short while, for a moment’s glory but we run for a crown of life that will last forever. This thought should motivate us to always strive to do our very best. Besides, just as a support team with all necessary food and medicine accompany a champion runner all along the route of the run, the Lord sends His support team of fellow believers, teachers and trainers as well as a host of angels to go ahead of us to clear the obstacles, to accompany and encourage us, to follow and escort us. Prateep V Philip

2 comments:

  1. Brilliant analogies for kingdom champions. Lawrence

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