Follow along with our kiddos and do today's devotion:
Correct Your Course:
Stretch…
- Describe things that would cause a person to not do well in a race.
- Have you ever seen someone stumble or fall in a race?
Train…
Several years ago when the Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain, the world saw one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. Derek Redmond, a young man from Britain, had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400 meter race. He had worked hard to get to the Olympics and his dream was within his reach. He was in the semi-finals and was running the race of his life. He could see the finish line just ahead as he rounded the final turn. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his leg and he fell to the trace with a torn muscle in his right leg.
As the medical attendants ran toward him, Derek struggled to his feet. He started to hop toward the finish line on one foot in an attempt to finish the race. Suddenly, a large man came out of the stands, pushed aside a security guard and ran to Derek’s side. It was Jim Redmond, Derek’s father. “You don’t have to do this,” he told his son. “Yes, I do,” said Derek. “Well, then,” said his father, “we are going to finish this together.”
As they did, they stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end. At first, the crowd watched in silence, then they rose to their feet and cheered… some even wept.
Derek Redmond didn’t win the gold medal, but he walked away with the incredible memory of a loving father who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the stands to help him finish the race.
Read Hebrews 12: 1 – 2
Life is like a race that has been set before us. We may struggle and face many obstacles, but we have a great crowd of witnesses who are cheering us on. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us and will help us when the pain is too great. We have a Savior, who left his place in heaven and came to earth to show us how to run the race. If we will keep our eyes on him!
- What hinders a believer? What cause us to fall?
- Who is cheering us on?
- Are we supposed to stop running or keep going?
- Where should our eyes be during the race? (verse 2)
- How do we keep going after a “fall?”
Race…
It’s very easy to walk around and think, “I’m not a sinner… I’m just as good as the other guys. I don’t do much wrong. And I would never really sin big. Actually, I’m pretty good.”
Though God doesn’t want you to dwell on your mistakes, your sin, he certainly wants you to be more honest with yourself and realize that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It’s not about being as good as the other guys; it’s about pleasing God and getting rid of the sin that gets in the way of your relationship with Him. The Lord desires for you to walk in His ways. That’s how you are going to win the race!
- Read Psalm 139: 23 – 24 and quietly consider “is there an offensive way in me?
More to come later. We feel your prayers and thank you for your support. God is richly blessing our lives and we can't wait to come home to tell you all about it.
Blessings,
Kevin
No comments:
Post a Comment