Photo by Leviosa Hou on Unsplash
The marathon runner who finishes has made a series of decisions long before race day. Sleep, diet, training, and sacrifice all contribute to the performance. The finish line proves what was built within.
With All Your Might — “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV) What are you only partially doing that deserves your whole self?
Soldier, Athlete, Farmer — “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” (2 Timothy 2:3-6 ESV) Which of these three — soldier, athlete, or farmer — best describes the kind of focus your calling requires right now?
Spiritual Move: Service — The practice of giving your time, gifts, and effort for the benefit of others. This is how love becomes visible in the world. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 ESV)