who wants the blessing?

Day14
reading from the playbook› 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

This was the hurdler’s first and last junior high school state championship competition, and she wanted to win this race. Her family, team, and coach were there to support her—confident in her ability. She was ready to run the best race of her life. She warmed up and answered the call to check in. Somehow, though, she missed the check-in. When the official called the names of the girls who would be racing, hers was not called.

Desperate, she ran to her coach for help. The meet director informed her coach that she had been told where to go, and she didn’t show up. A miscommunication had taken place, and she was out of the race before it had even started.

Devastation flooded the athlete, the team, her family and her coach. All the hours of hard work were dashed because she did not respond correctly to the call, thereby putting her out of position for the race. The blessing of victory escaped her.

How many times have God’s blessings escaped us because we did not heed His call? How many missed
opportunities have we passed because we did not respond correctly to His call?

We are called to run the race of life, but we must obey the rules and not disqualify ourselves from the prize. Run your race to obtain the prize. —Madeline Mims, Olympic medallist, track

executing the game plan›
Do you want to answer God’s call to become His child? If so, pray a prayer like the following:
“Father, I know I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and that He rose from the dead to prove it. Now I hear Your call and accept Your offer of full forgiveness and eternal life. Help me to run the race of life by qualifying through Your Son Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Savior. I want to follow Him as Lord. Amen.”

If this is the honest expression of your heart, you have entered into a personal relationship with God! The Bible promised that “to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

We encourage you to let a pastor know of your decision and to start attending a church.

Filed under Features, Sports.