To run the race as children of God we must allow the Holy Spirit within us to transform us by renewing our mind to the mind of Christ. The race we run, in today’s world, begins when we are born again and receive the Spirit of God to change our sinful, selfish nature into His new creation. Then our actions, thoughts, and motivations will become pleasing to Father God as we do good things.
We cannot “claim…to have already succeeded or have already become perfect…” but must “keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself.” (Philippians 3:12, GNT)
The ‘me’ means ALL who are willing to follow the Holy Spirit daily and finish the race. To complete the race is our life goal and each runner must obey all the rules or be disqualified. Each of us must forget what is behind… do our very “best to reach what is ahead…run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” (Philippians 3:13-16)
Paul goes on to remind us that “…all of us who are spiritually mature to go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.”
We must endure and persist. Some races take an incredible amount of strength and perseverance. We must exercise and practice techniques and skills to complete the designated course. There will be challenges that must be met with feverish diligence and expectation of completion!
Father God, I thank you for Your Word which lights my path and directs my way. I choose to put You first place. I choose to meditate on your word daily… I am praying my readers will make these choices so that we can be led in Your paths, complete our purpose and finish our race in Jesus’ name.
