Have a fever? Olympic fever, that is! People everywhere are tuning in--those more fortunate are in the grandstands, binoculars in hand, basking in the Australian sun and beholding a once-in-a-lifetime thrilling event! It's Olympic time around the world and we applaud those whose skill and determination are about to make them world champions.
You won't find me on the field; heaven help the team on which I would participate! I'm not a sportsperson at all and have momentous memories of gym days when I'd be last--or near the last--to be chosen on anyone's team. But there's a racing team I'm on that's never rejected me nor scoffed at my skills. It's never belittled nor battered me 'cause I couldn't hit a ball or swim a mile. It's a team of another world...and if you're a Christian, you're on it too.
So get on those running shoes, a Christian T-shirt, an all-weather cap--a determined smile--we're off to the races while our Cooch observes from His premium spot at the Well. He needs no binoculars, heaven's grandstand crowd needs no tickets--it's the race of all time--and we're all about to win, if we obey the rules!! Come along with me--we're going to sit in the grandstands of time and watch three "world-class" champions run first--and then it's our turn!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
Run with Patience of Soul!
There he goes--not running very fast. In fact, he's not moving at all. He's sitting on the track, immersed in pain, sorrow, introspection, bewilderment--and boils! He's run the race ably, serving his God to the best of his ability--and whammo! Everything that could happen bad DID happen bad! Have you guessed our runner's name? JOB--the most patient man in "another world"--a man who would not blaspheme the God who made him; a man who would continue to serve even when he did not understand.
Job was a man of God, tested by Satan, with God's permission--for God knew the internal workings of this runner's heart. He knew He could count on Job to come through tests and trials of unbelievable proportions. "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him," said our champion runner--as deep within him, an unparalleled patience of soul gave him the power to survive. Survive he did--to receive God's golden medals of approval and grace.
Run with Perseverance of Spirit!
There he goes--running through the sand, his family and possessions following him. He has no idea where he's going; he only knows he's following God. God said, "Go--follow Me--and I will make your seed as the stars of heaven." And so he went, persevering through the sands of time (try running in sand!), not giving up even when he was asked to give his promised son up--on an altar of sacrifice.
Abraham was a man of God, and God tested him--but Abraham's determination to serve His God never wavered. His discipline to a life of prayer never faltered--and when his nephew was about to be destroyed in the wicked city of Sodom, Abraham persevered in prayer--and God spared his nephew's life. Perseverance of spirit gave him the power to survive. And survive he did--to receive God's golden medals of approval and grace.
Run with Purity of Heart!
There he goes--running for his life! Young, handsome, his body hormones in good, working order, and facing the temptation of his life. The queen was out to trap him--she caught him in a palace hallway, alone--her advances were unmistakably understood--she didn't want just the cloak she grabbed; she wanted the young man in the cloak!
But Joseph was a man of God--and he stood the test. He would not defile himself nor defame his God. "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Joseph asked, and he answered his own question as he ran (Olympic-style?!) from the immoral advances of the queen. Integrity of heart held him in a tempting moment; love for His Lord kept his temple clean. Purity of heart gave him the power to survive. And survive he did--to receive God's golden medals of approval and grace.
Job, Abraham, Joseph--God's Gold Medal champions--and ours--champions from another world. Let the grandstands of all time applaud; let heaven's flag be unfurled! And now, as they cheer us on, let OUR race begin! Heroes of faith stand in the grandstands--they watch and we run. May we run with patience of soul, perseverance of spirit, purity of heart--Olympic-like qualities needed to run in ANY race.
Remember, like Olympic champions, you run not alone. Granted, the coaches who encourage and train Olympic athletes so diligently are not ours, but we've got finer--an Olymjpic Committee of Heavenly Coaches--the Holy Spirit giving us His power; the Father, giving us His Protection; and the Son, giving us His peace. As we keep our eyes on the goal, Jesus Christ Himself, we ARE going to make it. So keep running--today, this week, this year--until the race is won, and we stand before the Olympic Committee of another world, to hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful champion of another world--the golden crown awaits; enter into the joy of your Lord!"
His Healing
Words
"Until the Race Is Won"
May His healing touch fill your heart with song!
Find the lyrics and tune here for the song now playing on this page.
Hebrews 11: Gold Medal Champions of Another World!
"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...(Hebrews 12:1,2)."
"I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7,8)."
"Lord, temptations along the track press me sore; I lose patience; I fail to persevere, I fall into impure thoughts, words and actions--forgive me, Lord, and may I run this race with the determination of the champions before me, those who faced the same tests and trials, and won the race--by Your grace. Thank You for the power, the protection and the peace that You give. May I appropriate it in every situation I face, In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Your Weekly Assignment: Read Words from the Well poem and let the Lord minister to you.
He will, I promise! He is a faithful God and will be faithful to you today!
FEATURED LINKS
Medaled Moments...Medaled Men!
Devo by Peggie for the '96 Atlanta Olympics
Sports Resources at Peggie's Place!
Lots of sports links, including current Olympic-related Web sites
PRO-LIFE FEATURE:
Child of Sorrow...Child of Peace!--A pro-life devotional by Peggie
SEASONAL FEATURE: "Peggie Breaks" for OCTOBER!
A place to enjoy other devotionals!
I'm blessed with a wonderful "virtual web family," many close friends
who not only help to keep me sane and smiling, but write wonderful devotionals.
Enjoy their spiritual insights--and their sites as well!
Visit with my friend Barb! Food from the Master's Table
A Daily Dose of God's Word from Barbara's Entourage
Stop in at Georgia's Place (she's a good cook too!) - Pastors Wives' Prayer and Praise Page
Dare to be a Treasure Hunter--by my good friend Vickie
Peggie's List of Devotional Resources
Want to know more about that woman at the well?
Read her story in Bible Gateway.com - John+4:1-42">John 4:1-42.
"...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst,
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him
a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4: 14 KJV)."
"'Twas the Night before Easter!" - popular parody at Peggie's Place! . . . More Easter resources
