"Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back." 1 Peter 3:13-14 (MSG)
Everybody wants to be a winner. The football player wants to win the game. The runner wants to reach the finish line first. The politician wants to win the election. The soldier wants to win the war. There are those... who want to win the lottery, and others who want to win at love. What do you want to win? In our text, Paul compares the Christian life to a race that he is running, and heaven as the prize of the high calling that he wants to win. Paul is letting us know that he wants to win this race, and if we want to win, we must stay focused on the prize. He warns that others in the race will try to distract you, by coaxing you to follow other goals. Yet, Paul says, press forward, follow after, pursue with vigor, as following after a game. Because he longed to share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul was committed to staying in the race. He was prepared to do, or suffer anything, so that he might obtain this wonderful resurrection. What about you; are you still in the race? We cannot run forward and successfully win the race, while looking back and holding on to the past. There are some things, some issues, and some people, that we have to leave behind, without looking back, so that we can win the race. Today determine in your heart that you want to win the prize that we run for, fight for, and wrestle for which is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This life is a life worth fighting for. So keep your eye on the prize and stay focused on the goal and whatever you do, don't turn back!
Pastor: Karen Washington
Visit us at http://www.elizabethamec.org
Everybody wants to be a winner. The football player wants to win the game. The runner wants to reach the finish line first. The politician wants to win the election. The soldier wants to win the war. There are those... who want to win the lottery, and others who want to win at love. What do you want to win? In our text, Paul compares the Christian life to a race that he is running, and heaven as the prize of the high calling that he wants to win. Paul is letting us know that he wants to win this race, and if we want to win, we must stay focused on the prize. He warns that others in the race will try to distract you, by coaxing you to follow other goals. Yet, Paul says, press forward, follow after, pursue with vigor, as following after a game. Because he longed to share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul was committed to staying in the race. He was prepared to do, or suffer anything, so that he might obtain this wonderful resurrection. What about you; are you still in the race? We cannot run forward and successfully win the race, while looking back and holding on to the past. There are some things, some issues, and some people, that we have to leave behind, without looking back, so that we can win the race. Today determine in your heart that you want to win the prize that we run for, fight for, and wrestle for which is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This life is a life worth fighting for. So keep your eye on the prize and stay focused on the goal and whatever you do, don't turn back!
Pastor: Karen Washington
Visit us at http://www.elizabethamec.org
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