Joy — Philippians 3 – Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Philippians 3:13
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead...” (ESV)
When I was in high school, I decided to hang up my football cleats in exchange for track cleats. (Context: I’m not a runner unless it’s out of necessity. Never have been. Probably never will be.) I needed to do something to stay in shape, so jumping events seemed like a natural fit. Or so I thought…
Our Head Track Coach and I had great rapport. He was also one of my assistant football coaches, so we’d built trust over the years. It didn’t take much for him to convince me to join the Track Team. Maybe that’s why I also allowed him to “persuade me” into signing up for the 400 meter sprint during an invitational meet “for the sake of the team.” (Did I mention I’m not a runner?)
To our surprise, I came in 2nd. But here’s the best part: The winner pulled his hamstring during the final 50 meters and still won. (Side note: He ended up playing football at the University of Kentucky. #builtdifferent) Aside from his speed and his resilience, what impressed me the most was how he stayed laser-focused on finishing the race despite his injury.
Why do I share this story? To point out this: We steer where we stare. Most runners in his predicament would check to see where the other competitors were. And on occasion, this could cost them the race. But instead, he took a page out of Paul’s book and forgot what was behind and strained forward to what was ahead (Philippians 3:13).
That’s why one of my favorite passages of Scripture comes from 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 sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (ESV)
I’m going to mention it again: We steer where we stare. So what are you staring at in this season of your life? Is it Jesus? Or is it something else? Is it leading you closer to Him? Or are you drifting further away from Him?
APPLICATION
The passage from Hebrews doesn’t just mention where we’re running; it also mentions how we’re running. Grab a journal or a sheet of paper and answer the following questions honestly and prayerfully:
How would you describe the race you’re currently running?
Are you running free? Or are you running weighed down?
Are you running to win? Or are you running to not lose?
What’s one change you could make this week to faithfully and joyfully run the race Jesus is inviting you to?
PRAYER
“God, I’m not always aware of the direction and pace I’m running in life. I’m also not always aware of what’s weighing me down. On the days that I’m wandering, weak, and weary, would You renew my focus and my strength as Your Word says in Isaiah 40:31. Amen.”