[Run to Win] Top PerformanceSample

Running Well

In ancient Greece, sports competitions were well known. In particular, the Olympic Games were a significant event. Two things were clear to the runners in the athletic games: First, an athlete had to train intensely for several months to qualify for the games. Second, an athlete had to play fairly to be worthy of the crown. The rules stated that if a runner interfered with another runner during the race and caused him to lose his pace, the aggressor would be disqualified and not allowed to finish the race.

Athletes know that they must focus on their sport to become the best. Just watch golfers looking down the fairway, intensely focused on where the ball should go before stepping up to hit their tee shot. Or consider the concentration of basketball players who take time before shooting a couple of free throws, even though they have practiced repeatedly before the game. This keeps them focused and in the “zone” to compete well throughout the game.

The apostle Paul felt concerned for the believers in the church in Galatia. The new Christians had started the race of the Christian life running very well, but false teachers had caused them to lose focus, thus, losing their pace. This significantly hindered their progress to the point where Christians were no longer running the race well. Paul asked the Galatians: who hindered you?

Paul asked them to identify those bringing false teachings and leading them to live differently from the life of following Christ that Paul had taught them. Like a coach, Paul watched how they played the game and showed them the necessary adjustments they must make to help them get back to their finest.

Have you ever felt like suddenly you have been taken out of God’s game? In such moments, we need to evaluate and see what has changed, what went wrong, what is hindering us, and how we run our race. Then, we need to get back on track to living the Christian life according to what the Bible says to make it to the finish line.

Lord, when You see I am not running the race of life well, please show me what keeps me from following You. Help me eliminate it so I can get back on track. I ask that You make my path straight as I run the race of life so that I can run to win!