Gold in the Three-Legged Race
Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. I Corinthians 9:24
Aren’t the Olympics terrific? The runners, gymnasts, divers and other athletes keep me spellbound late into the night. It would be such fun to do flips and handstands across the matt, fly through the air doing twists and summersaults before diving into the cool water, twirl and tumble across a balance beam, leap over hurdles with the agility of a deer, and race against the best runners in the world coming out on top.
I’m not athletic but remember running the three-legged race in first grade. I had never tried it before, never practiced and had never seen it done. When Field Day came, my teacher paired me with another student, tied left ankle to ankle and knee to knee with a length of twine, and directed us to the starting line. We stumbled and fell, coming in dead last. One problem was that we didn’t know or trust each other and didn’t want to get too close. We were out of step from the start, pulling against each other and finally dragging each other down.
By second grade I had grown a little smarter. Patty, my new best friend, practiced with me long before Field Day. We learned to understand each other’s movements and communicate with each other. We’d wrap our arms around our waists and run in step as close as we could get. At the big race we were blue-ribbon winners.
We are each in a race—different from the Olympics but even more important. It starts with our decision to serve Jesus. Yoked with Him, we begin the race. It’s a struggle. We don’t know Him or trust Him as we should. We aren’t close enough to Him to run in step. We make mistakes and fall flat on our faces, struggling toward the finish line of this marathon race of life.
It’s only as we get in step with Jesus that our race becomes smoother. This happens as we spend time in His Word and follow his lead instead of insisting on our own way. It’s not easy. And we’re never as consistent as we should be.
You may look at the lives of others and think their race is easier than yours. Every believer struggles in his three-legged marathon with the Lord. Everyone trips and falls sometimes.
The key is to get closer. Wrap your arms around Jesus and cling to Him as close as you can. Let him direct your steps. Stay in His word and in fellowship with other believers.
Remember the Olympians—they only make it look easy because of their years of dedication to their sport. Run your race. Don’t give up. Someday you will wear the crow of life in His kingdom.
tessagroves 