Finishing first?

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. (Philippians 3:12-14 MSG)

As you begin your day today, consider this: God sets the course, we take steps along that course, and at some point, we will reach the finish line, if we don't give up. Will we finish well, though? Or will we just barely make it over that finish line, panting, bedraggled, and wasted? The more we 'train' for the race, the better we will be able to run. The more we allow our 'coach' to help us develop our 'skills' to endure the race, the less likely we are to peter out after even a short run!

Are you well on your way? If you have started well, but somewhere along the way you got waylaid, it isn't too late to don your 'running gear' (the full armor of God) and begin the run again. As Paul said, none of us is an expert in this race. None of us is immune to the 'fatigue' of the day in day out battles along the course we travel. We all run, we all tire, we all have a different pace. This is why we are warned not to get into the downward spiral of comparison. 

I know some will run more consistently than I do. I also know I am willing to put forth my best effort to do all he calls me to do. There is no substitute for obedience - even when it doesn't look like the 'obedience' of another. God may not be asking the same things of you right now, so focus on what he is asking of you and then you will be running the way he intends for you to run. As for me, I run at varied paces - sometimes leaping over hurdles, at others just a light jog. There is no need to maintain a break-neck speed all the time.

When we reach out for what Christ has for us each day, we are asking him to set the pace. There is an advantage to a pacesetter in a race. The pacesetter keeps the runners from tiring too quickly or sustaining injury from running at a pace that isn't going to help them finish well. The more we keep our eyes focused directly on the 'pacesetter', the less likely we are to fizzle out. The goal is to finish well - not to finish first. Just sayin!