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Distance – Finish Line – 6/7/20

We don’t gain forgiveness and attain salvation by struggling, straining and striving. It’s a free gift. We receive it by grace through faith. Some of the 1st Century Christians had decided that once they accepted Jesus as Savior and received grace, they could sit on the sidelines and wait for heaven. Many who call themselves Christians still think that today. It’s a do-as-little-as-possible mentality. It would be like getting married and then turning to your new spouse and asking what the minimum is that you can do to stay together. That won’t work in marriage. Would it even be a marriage? It doesn’t fly in the Christian life either. Paul strongly affirms that salvation is free, but even before you gave your life to Jesus Christ, God prepared a race for you, a mission for you to accomplish. God wants you to pursue the race with singular focus as you press toward the goal line. Christianity isn’t a spectator sport.

Scripture
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Ph 3:13-14) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ep 2:8-9)

Verses – Acts 26:17-18; 1 Co 9:25; Eph 2:8-10; Ph 1:6, 3:13-14, 17

Thought
Sometimes when life gets difficult, our goal seems distant. To continue running the race we must stay focused.
1) Look up! In order to run your race, you must be aligned with God’s purpose. You will need God’s strength and complete dependence on Him to accomplish it. Whatever race God wants you to run, you can be sure that God will equip you, guide you, protect you and provide what you need. Just keep looking up. 2) Quit looking back! When running a race, never look back. It will distract you and slow you down. Many people allow the past to hold them back. They look at their past failures and hurts and it brings pain, remorse and guilt. Whatever happened may have been horrible, but you have to put the past in the past and get some distance from it. In order to run the race well, in order to win the race you must not look back. 3) Look forward! Keep your eye on the prize. In this world there are many honors and prizes that people strive for—an Olympic medal, the Heisman Trophy, the Stanley Cup, a Super Bowl ring. These are prestigious and valued prizes, but they all fade away. They are disposable. As Christians we run toward a goal and a prize that doesn’t fade away, it is eternal. When we keep our eyes focused on the prize, our perspective shifts and suddenly the obstacles, the disappointments don’t seem as big, the hardships don’t seem as harsh. There’s no greater adventure than running the race, although challenging, it’s uplifting, life changing, empowering and filled with joy and fulfillment because you realize that it is worth everything! We anticipate the splendor that awaits at the finish line. Keep going!

Questions
If a person accepts Christ but never proceeds to grow, share or serve, do you question their salvation? How would you describe “grace”? Is it hard to stay focused on the ultimate prize of eternal life with Jesus? Why? How do the prizes and honors of this world divert our attention from our eternal goal? How do you keep yourself on the track, continuing to run the race for Christ? Can a Christian retire at some point? What are you doing for Christ now?

Response
Look at your race and consider how you are running. If you have taken a side path or are sitting on a bench what are the steps you need to take to get moving again. Decide on some specific things you will do—jumpstart!

Pray – Most Holy God, the prize you have placed before me is amazingly beyond my comprehension. Help me to keep my eyes on you and not on this world’s prizes that bring only momentary glory and satisfaction. Keep me on track and give me strength and guidance to run the race you have set before me. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.

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