8-17-2024 7:50pm

Strong spirits: run the race

Photo: Fanny Schertzer

Did you watch the Olympics? Has it ever occurred to you that all of us are in an Olympics of a sort?

I have been amazed- even dumbfounded- by some of what I have been able to observe in the Olympics. What people can do when they are healthy, talented, and committed to the hard work of training is amazing. What I have seen has convinced me again that truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

The Olympics that we all are in are the games of life. We all have gifts, skills, and talents that are God-given. It is up to us to work with our Coach to develop those skills, not just for ourselves, but for the improvement and blessing of the world around us.

"Let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin that holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. (Hebrews 12:1,2)

"Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run then in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict training in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever." (Paul (1 Corinthians 9:25)

You are in the race! Submit to your Coach! Let him make you the best you can be! Run to win! And God himself will crown you with life!

Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.