Morning Devotional – Race Day

Jim Layman

Today being Patriot’s Day, our thoughts turn to running races. “Chariots of Fire” depicts runners in a race. I explained to my boys, in Eric Liddell, you see what’s in 1 Corinthians 9:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Eric Liddell followed his Olympic fame and glory with obscurity in China. He was not running for perishable glory, but imperishable glory. This motivates me to run hard and long.

Some here are tired of running and talk of running farther is exhausting. For you I would comfort you with Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 3:

Philippians 3:8-11 ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Paul was not just pressing on to plant another church or do more work, but pressing on to know Jesus, to be in relationship with God. Wouldn’t it be well for us to say that our goal is pressing on to know him more and enjoy him more?

We hope to talk about the ministry in these days, and also connect with each other. We hope to give you time to connect with the Lord as well.