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Full Stride and Forward Focused

My brother was a strong high school track athlete competing on a strong high school team. I enjoyed going to his meets to cheer him on, and I remain a track and field fan still. I remember the day a competitor blazed down the track and, knowing he was comfortably in the lead, looked back at the others behind him, eased his stride, and flashed double-peace signs several paces before breaking the tape. When the times for the event were announced moments later, his was one tenth of a second above his school’s record, prompting from him an audible cry of anguish at an opportunity lost. To my knowledge, he never did set the new mark.

In a sense, I think we believers run much of life’s race looking backwards by living in regret of past wrongs or languishing in a pool of past pains. Clearly, there is great value in confessing our sins, forgiving those of others, and confronting the reality of our hurts. Yet our purpose, effectiveness, and destination in Christ all lie before us. Paul grasped this well, shedding the weight of his sordid past and living into his call: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . .  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”1 His real and regrettable past was neither defining nor debilitating to his future; his eyes were on the prize.

The same must be true of us, for “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”2 We are free to flourish, for Paul’s words to the Corinthians remain true for believers of every time and space: “You were set apart for God-like living to do His work. You were made right with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.”3 Our most impactful and meaningful Kingdom work lies ahead, and we are equipped to pursue it. So let us run full stride and forward focused in our race to the end—losing none of the opportunities before us, but living daily into our call.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. —Isaiah 43:18-19

Father, You have redeemed us from our brokenness and established us for Your great purposes. What can we say, but thank You! Draw us near, that, today, our sights would be on You and our actions aligned with Your purposes for us. Amen.

1 Philippians 3:12-14
2 2 Corinthians 5:17
3 1 Corinthians 6:11 NLV

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Good Stuff

Most people who reach my age have a lot of stuff. It’s not that we are hoarders, necessarily, but our “this-and-that” accumulation has gradually morphed far beyond our needs, and a sizeable portion of our wants, for that matter. Many of us have a growing yen to right-size our earthly possessions to what is important as we run the bell lap of life. I think there’s a reason for this: as this life fades behind us and the nearing Kingdom increasingly consumes our field of vision, we realize that much of what we’ve treasured from an earthly perspective is different than what God esteems, and that a godly character is infinitely more valuable and impactful than one’s wealth and possessions. We do well, then, to understand what God values and to align our entire beings to His desires.

Wisdom. Wisdom, wrote Solomon, “is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”1 For wisdom protects us and watches over us,2 and through wisdom we gain understanding and direction, well-being and honor, and counsel and justice.3 Aren’t these what we want above all else? Pray for wisdom.

Commands. God’s laws moved David’s heart to song: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold”;4 it is “sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”5 For God’s laws lead us in “the way that is good and right,”6 the way of love for God and for each other. In His mercy, He has put His Spirit in us to move us to follow His decrees and to be careful to keep His laws.7 Walk in His Spirit.

Integrity. Observed Solomon, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”8 We may marvel at worldly accomplishments, wealth, or fame, but isn’t it true that we esteem most highly those of noble character—character that reflects God’s presence? May your good name reflect His.

Faith. Life-giving faith is the complete abandonment of self-righteousness and the total reliance on the righteousness of Christ, for life itself is found only in Him. No wonder Peter declared faith to be “of greater worth than gold,” for it will “result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”9 Trust Him.

These are treasures that last, treasures built up in Heaven. They glorify God who glorifies us. This is good stuff.

Father, send Your Spirit to us to convince us of what is truly important to You and therefore to us. Grant us the grace and wisdom to submit everything to You for Your glory and our good. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 Proverbs 3:14-15
2 Proverbs 4:6
3 Proverbs 8:12–21
4 Psalm 119:72
5 Psalm 19:7-10
6 1 Samuel 12:23
7 Ezekiel 36:27
8 Proverbs 22:1
9 1 Peter 1:7

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Your Calling and Your Gifts

Before she passed away, Sue led a group of women who call themselves the Beacons. This gang of big hearts still gathers monthly to piece and sew fabric squares into patterns and then hand-tie layers together into quilts for distribution to the poor in the Appalachian foothills in Southeast Ohio. The Beacons have a limited budget, so receiving donations of cotton fabric is always a plus. That’s were Sue came in, for while sewing was not among this leader’s skill sets, procurement of donated fabric was. “I can’t sew, but I can beg,” she would quip. The irony was rich: the leader of a quilting group, unable to sew but humble enough to ask store managers for remnants.

This story reminds us that we all in the body of Christ have different gifts, for we saw in Sue what we heard from Paul: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”1 Yet in Sue, we see more than just the differences among us; we grasp the wisdom behind them, the beauty of our submission, and the confidence to thrive in our uniqueness. There is no reason to envy the gifts and callings of others, for no matter our role, it is vital and worth our all. Again, Paul challenges us, “So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”2

Ours, then, is to accept our differences, embracing our role, celebrating our gifts, and living boldly in the confidence that God knows what He is doing in us and through us. So, if public speaking terrifies you, but you mentor well one-on-one, engage deeply. If you cannot endure a short-term mission trip, but you can intercede for those who do, pray boldly. If you do not fully understand the troubles besieging others, but you have the compassion to come alongside them, then care sacrificially. Your roles and your gifts are all part of God’s plan. So be bold, and rejoice. You are gifted and equipped for whatever God has in store for you today.

Father, thank You calling me into Your kingdom work. No role is unimportant nor any obedience unfruitful, so lead me into whatever You have for me to do today. I trust You. In Christ I pray. Amen.

1 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
2 Romans 12:6-8 NLT