I’M NOT RUNNING FOR MYSELF, at least not at this present juncture of my life. I am running for 4 other people right now, not that their not running too, but they are in some fashion dependant upon my training, as I am of theirs.
There are five of us who are training to run in the Big Sur International Marathon Relay. We are running under the team name of “Hebrews 12.” Take a look at the passage and you’ll see our “motivation.” Anyway, these teammates are dependant upon my training. If we are going to compete as a team, and finish as a team (winning is most definitely not the issue), then I must train with due diligence. They need me to run my best, if I give in, or give up, they suffer, the team suffers, and in fact we become disqualified.
This past week, while running, I was listening to a preacher talk about the Apostle Peter’s words to the young men seeking to lead the church. He says that we are to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) What rang in my ears was a new understanding regarding the reason I am to resist Satan and to stand strong; it is not because fellow believers throughout the world are in just as bad situations, but because my standing firm, in some way helps them to stand firm. I run for them. When I resist it helps them to resist. I don’t know how all this works out, for it is truly a spiritual battle that we wage, but I do know what I do, that is how I run this race set before me (Hebrews 12) matters.
Train well. Run well. Race well. For we run not for ourselves alone.