RUNNING THE RACE

Read Galatians 5

I love to watch the track and field competition during the Olympics. I am always amazed at the athletes and their abilities. I was watching the ladies’ 4x100 meter relay and saw something devastating. The USA team was nearing the exchange between the second and third runners when the USA runner was bumped by another country’s runner in the next lane, which caused them to blow the baton exchange. The USA team just stopped running but quickly realized they had to finish the race in order to appeal what just happened. So, the baton was passed, and the third runner ran, passed the baton to the fourth runner, and then they finished the race. They appealed and were allowed to run again, ALL BY THEMSELVES, to see if they would qualify by time for the final race. They did! And they went on to win the final race the next day.

TEACHING MOMENT

I was thinking how that applies to us as we run the race of life with Christ. We are literally passing the baton to our children as we raise them to honor and love our Lord. Sometimes we get bumped during the pass, and things get crazy. But just like this USA team, we can appeal our case to God. He knows our hearts. He knows our desire to pass the baton correctly, to run the race with excellence. He gives us the opportunity to do it again and again and again. He wants to see us succeed, not fail.

What are you passing to your children? Are they ready to catch the baton? Are they ready to run? Are they being prepared to pass the baton to the next generation? Will you be on the sidelines cheering them on during the race? I want to encourage you today to run the faith race with diligence, pass the baton of faith with confidence, and prepare your children to run and pass the baton too. Our Father is watching and cheering!

O Lord, I know that the baton pass is so important as I pass the faith on to my children. Help me pass it with confidence. Help them grab it firmly and run the race that You have set before them.