Why Do You Race?Sample

Race with Eternity

In the past 7 days, we’ve discussed how to race for self, for others, and for God. We’ve also briefly explored our biblically-based reason for training, racing, and living – to glorify the Lord. With this understanding, now is a great time to ask the question: Do I know the God I should be racing to glorify? Am I a disciple of Jesus? Am I a part of God’s family? Is my worship acceptable to the Lord?

The Bible is clear that all have made choices contrary to God’s desires. The Bible calls this sin, and these sins lead to eternal separation from God. We have all experienced this and have felt the weight of bad decisions personally. The resulting separation from God is often experienced as loneliness, conviction, fear, insecurity, or guilt. The question is, how do we remove these sins and the resulting barrier that exists between us and God? The answer is that we can’t – not on our own.

You see, no amount of good can undo the bad, just as no amount of loving kindness could undo the brutal murder of one of your loved ones. However, because God understands our state and continues to love us anyway, He did what we could not. He made it possible to experience forgiveness by placing the consequences of our actions on His son Jesus.

Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and thus experienced complete intimacy with God the Father. He shows us an example of how God intends for us to live. Yet, out of obedience to God the Father, Jesus allowed Himself to be brutally tortured and killed, taking the consequences for our sins upon Himself. He then came back from the dead three days later, and spent an additional forty days teaching His disciples before ascending to Heaven.

Jesus has paid the price for our sins, and offers each of us the opportunity to be forgiven and to have an intimate relationship with God. We must respond in order to receive this gift though. How? By turning from your sins, including self-worship (remember Day 3), and trusting in Jesus alone for your forgiveness. As you fully understand the consequences for your sins, the forgiveness made available through Jesus’s sacrifice, and the eternal rewards available through trusting in Jesus; your response will be obvious – you will accept this gift and follow Jesus as one of His disciples.

To learn more about Jesus’s message or share that you are trusting Jesus today for the forgiveness of your sins, please visit www.WhyDoYouRace.com

Reflections:

1. How would you describe your life before you received God’s forgiveness through Jesus? Can you relate with feeling lonely, afraid, insecure, or guilty?
2. Do you recall the joy you felt when you first understood that you could be forgiven and have a relationship with God?
3. Consider ways that you could worship the Lord through training and racing that would reflect your thanks for God’s sacrifice and forgiveness.