Exposition
This week’s devotion is going to focus on Concentrate and Run your Race. However, today, we will want to consider what makes Life a Race. Life is likened to a race because both require attention and effort. Both require self-denial and perseverance. Both have a clearly defined start and finish lines we strive for. The Finish line for US, Christians, is to become like Christ in everything we do. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”. Romans 8:29 NKJV.
Life as a race is to live one’s life in an ethical, virtuous and spiritually fulfilling manner. However, Life is a SPECIAL RACE. Unlike an athletic competition, the race for the Christian lasts a lifetime. If you’re not dead yet; you aren’t finished yet this gives you HOPE. You still have time to push forward in the race to win. It is also a SPECIAL RACE because it’s a RACE AGAINST TIME, not everyone can run for a long time.
The interesting thing, however, is that as Paul wrote to the Philippian Church in our opening Scripture in verse 6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”, the Race of Life for the Christian is begun by Jesus, continued by Jesus and ended by Jesus. You are a WORK IN PROGRESS. Hence, learn to forgive those who offend you.