Will You Line Up?

READY

“… Come, follow me.” – John 1:43 (NLT)

SET

What gives you life? If you’ve been part of any type of motorsports, you know this is a place that calls us to come and experience life.

When the key turns or the button is pressed and you feel the thrill of horsepower around you, it says, “This is life.” There's something about motors and horsepower that pulls us riders in.

Growing up, there was never a time that I thought life would be worth it without this thrill. It was what I was created to do. I loved it. I thought it gave me true life, a community, and a purpose. The problem was, every once in a while, I would get hurt and this would reveal the devastating truth.

In 1998, I broke my femur and shattered bones in my feet leaving me hospitalized and in a wheelchair for months. I may have loved motocross, but it didn't love me back. The community started to disappear. I discovered that the thing I went to for identity and life over-promised and under-delivered. But I didn't know where else to go. Once I healed, I got back on the track in search of my identity, significance, and purpose. But, surprisingly, I was disappointed. I felt like there had to be something more, something greater. Turns out, I was right.

It was Jesus. What’s so awesome about Jesus? Simple; He promises life. In John 10:10 Jesus says, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Rich! And satisfying! Now that’s awesome. That’s what I was looking for on two wheels, but I could never find it. So, how do we get there? How do we experience the rich and satisfying life Jesus promises?

Again, it’s pretty simple. If we trust Jesus with our lives and follow His plan, we are in the perfect spot to receive the rich and satisfying life Jesus talks about. It's saying to Jesus, “I want to turn when you say turn. Hit the gas when you say hit the gas. Stop when you say stop. I will follow You until I reach the checkered flag because You know how the race is meant to be raced. You know when the road curves to the left and to the right and You know where all the obstacles are.”

If you believe that Jesus loves you, guides you, and can offer you eternal peace and salvation from sin, there’s only one question left to answer: Will you line up for the race of your life and trust Jesus?

GO

• Where do you find life? Is it working?
• What does it mean to trust and follow Jesus?
• What’s holding you back from putting your faith in Him?

WORKOUT

Romans 10:9-10; Mark 8:34-38

OVERTIME

“God, thank You for sending Your Son to pay for my sins. Help me trust You and learn to follow You with my life. I’ve been looking for life in all kinds of places and none of these things deliver like I know You can. Help me remember this each day. Amen.”

TJ Auten is an avid dirt bike rider. He grew up racing all around the country with his dad’s support. Every weekend they were at the races. Today, he uses dirt bikes as a tool to share Jesus. He served with Young Life alongside his wife, Kacey, for 10 years. They have two children. He is a student ministry pastor at Acts 29 church in Lansing, MI.