Running the Glory Race

As I write this, your Daddy has just gone out the door to do his daily 2-3 mile run. As long as I have known him, he has been a runner. Back in those early years, he was training for marathons and 10Ks (or the Bix 7 in Davenport), but since his diabetic diagnosis, it's been more of the 5K variety. It's hard to run longer distances and maintain your blood sugar at the same time. In the photo at right, you can see the snack size Snickers bulging in his right sock to use in an emergency. In addition to running, he's played football, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf. Your Daddy exercises for various reasons: health, for sure, stress relief and for burning off sugar.
I have always exercised, whether aerobics, bike riding, walking, running and/or weightlifting. I knew the importance of it from the very beginning ... it meant I could eat more chocolate. I didn't start running, of course, until I met your Daddy, but didn't have the passion for it that he had (my famous "Melba" photo from my a 5K is proof of that - it was probably me that cracked that pavement at left). Exercise has always been a necessity in our lives on a daily basis. It is rare we miss the opportunity to have some sort of physical exercise. We tried to impart that into our kids, both of whom have been active in some kind of sport or workouts. Both of you are healthy and strong, and we praise to God for that.

Scripture tells us that caring for our physical bodies is very important. Why? Because it's the vessel God has selected for our souls to use while here on earth to accomplish His will for us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." The price was high in the death of Christ, therefore to care for it as we ought is paramount. The above statement is backed up by several other verses, such as Prov. 31:17 about a capable wife which says, "She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong" and 1 Cor. 9:25: "Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one." We take care of our bodies to win the Glory Race, one that Paul was thrilled to have completed, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim. 4:7 And how are we to compete in this race of faith? According to 1 Cor. 9:24: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it."

This last verse reminds me of a video that I absolutely love called Run: The Passion of Elijah by Ray Vander Laan. He compares the Christian faith to that of an athlete competing in the ancient Olympics when the Greeks ran in worship of their gods. At about the 11-minute mark in the video, Vander Laan says,

"To Paul the follower of Jesus is a runner, someone who runs to say to the world, 'Jesus Christ is Lord and God!'... For Paul the walk with Jesus is an Olympic event. And you and me, we are His athletes called to walk after the teacher, the rabbi, the Messiah. Not just because He calls, but to say to the world, 'Watch how we run!' to declare to the world that He is King."

He then quotes Hebrews 12:1-2 which says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."  Vander Laan then continues:

"Once we're in the games, God desires that the way we live, the way we try to be like our rabbi Jesus, becomes a flat out, all out RUN ... so run like you want to win. Hear me! How do we dare dabble in Christian walk? How dare we take discipleship as a part time stroll in the park? How dare we quit? How dare we let up? We are God's Olympians, and our run says to the world that He alone is King. So run! Run! RUN! Run! ... I don't want to cross the finish line at the end of my race and have the Lord of my game say, 'What you got left?' and have to tell Him that I didn't give it all. I want to end that race by the grace of God and cross that finish line and say, 'I have nothing left!'"

This video inspires me and brings me to tears every time I watch it. That is our prayer for our children and your fiances and all the generations to follow: that you run with all the strength you have to fulfill God's plan for you to grow His Kingdom.

Yesterday Ayla told me she and Rob are training to walk/run the Springfest 5K in Sarasota, which benefits local children's charities. We know you will have fun together, be stronger physically and in the process be helping out children in your local community. Do likewise in your spiritual race. Take care of you, exercise, eat right and proclaim with every bit of the strength God gives you, "Jesus Christ is King!"

Discussion: What are the ways you try to keep in shape? Have you considered that your body was designed to house the Holy Spirit? When you exercise, do you think it makes you a better disciple? Are you running with passion the Glory Race?

Prayer: Lord, may we lace up our shoes and enthusiastically run this race you've set before us. We pray our walk is an example for all to see, and that we proclaim the Name of the One True King at every step. In Christ we pray, Amen.