Most of us are involved in our own game-
“life.” As we make our plays we
sometimes get hurt. Sometimes it’s just
a bruise or a sprain, sometimes we get fractured and other times we even get
critically injured. We have the choice
to sit on the sidelines and watch the game go on without us or we can get our
wounds taken care of and get back into the game.
In the
bible, we see examples of many athletes who became injured as they ran their
race, but instead of stopping and sitting on the sidelines they stayed in the
race to the end. Joseph was sold into
slavery, Ruth lost her husband, Naomi lost her husband and her sons, Job lost
all his children and his wealth, Paul was placed in prison, Jesus Christ was
tried and eventually crucified but they all stayed in the race and because of
their determination they made a difference in the world. You can read their stories in the bible.
I was one of those athletes who got severely
injured as I ran my race; I stopped to get treated and I really wanted to just
stay out of game and sit on the sidelines.
I didn’t want to take the chance of another injury. However I realized if I stayed on the sidelines
I would not finish and win my race so I went back into the race.
I
understand that staying in the race is not easy, but because of my passion I
keep going. I realize that other people
are depending on me to hear the good news of salvation. I realize that there are people around me who
are still in captivity and need to be loosed, who are still prisoners and need
to be set free, who are still blind need their sight, and there are still those
who are mourning and need comfort. I am
charged with the task to let them know that there is hope, because Jesus Christ
has already done for them the very things they are looking for. I keep going because no one else can run my
race and complete my task.
Today
I want to encourage you to stay in your race.
Do not sit any longer on the side line.
You have a job to do. You may have
been hurt because of betrayal, disappointments, an illness, the death of a
loved one, a miscarriage, the loss of your home or job. I do understand that the pain of your injury
is real, but please allow God to treat you and “get right back in the race.” The longer you stay out, the more out of
shape you become, and the more difficult will be your journey. Somebody is depending on you. It may be your children, spouse, neighbor, a
friend, or a relative. You have the key
to their prison door and if you sit on the sideline you won’t get to them. Don’t leave them stranded, which you will, if
you are content to stay on the sideline rather than get back in the race.
In His
service,
Vilma
