Father, May I? – Run, Baby, Run – May 21

Father, May I Run?
May 21, 2021

Run, Baby, Run

1Corinthians 9:24-27, ‘You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about it and then missing out myself.’ (MSG)

We have all endured track and field day, whether competing on our own or with classmates when we were kids, or even more fascinating, with our own children. One of my daughters when she was young was very competitive but wasn’t super athletic. I dreaded track and field day for her because she gave the races her everything but seldom ended up with any place, therefore, no ribbon. Year after year, her little heart was broken. She tried, so for her effort she deserved a gigantic ‘E’ for ‘Excellent!’. When she arrived home one year, I had a blue ribbon waiting for her, and on the ribbon, I had written, ‘No matter what, you are always No 1 in my book’. I think she still has it in her memorabilia.

All our lives we are moving through life as competitors in a race. Life is a race. To a finish line. When we are babies, our parents are rushing us to crawl and walk, eat more than baby mush and talk. As toddlers, we are chasing our older siblings, wanting to get into just as many messes as they. As children, we yearn for teendom, and as teenagers, we can’t wait for young adulthood and driver licenses and the thrill of turning twenty-one and marriage proposals. Before we know it, we are welcoming grandbabies and looking at life in a rear-view mirror, and planning for retirement and burying our parents. And sometimes we find ourselves staring at a sunset holding the hand of someone we know we love more than life itself, yet we are unable to remember their name or our own for that matter. We hear someone mutter, ‘They had a good life together’ and we also swallow hard and nod, ‘Yes, it’s been a good life’ we remind ourselves, as we walk through the shimmery curtain into eternity with Him. This is the race called LIFE which we are all running.

How amazing to get to the end of that race, and cross the finish line, to be met by our Father, holding a Blue Ribbon in His hand that He extends, on which is written, ‘No matter what, your name is written in My Book.’ Nothing is finer than hearing, ‘Well done, My good and faithful servant!’ So no matter what races you are running, how competitive you are and hopeful for the grandest of successes, remember the greatest race you will ever run and win is the one called LIFE, and it isn’t nearly as important how you start, but, rather, how you finish. With His name on your lips.

Hebrews 12:14, ‘In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward holiness, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.’ (TPT)

I want to know the Father’s opinion about everything!
Won’t you JOURNEY with me this month as we ask our Father, ‘MAY I?’’