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This last week, both of my sons were running in track meets – the first of this season. It was my youngest’s first meet ever, running in two events. His small body is so much like mine was at that age – hardly an ounce of muscle on it, and running as fast as he could, he was still outmatched by most of the already-muscular guys from other schools.
My oldest, on the other hand, has really grown and developed since last track season. Where last year he seemed to be checking off a box that indicated he’d indeed competed in each event, this year he was going all out. He was running to WIN.
Paul tells us in verse 24 that we should run to win in our spiritual lives. He doesn’t mean winning our salvation, for that would be works. Instead, he’s talking about reward for faithfully sharing the gospel.
My commentary talks about our motivation. “Under law the motive was fear, but under grace the motive is love. Love is a far higher motive than fear. Men will do out of love what they would never do from terror.”
I witnessed that in my oldest’s running this week. His work on two relay teams (on both he was running the first leg) would set the pace for the rest of his team, and I believe his caring for them pushed him in his performance. As Christians, we should be raised to a new level of behavior, my commentary said, desiring to live a holy life, not out of fear of punishment for having broken the law, but out of love for Christ, who died for us and rose again.
Father, I want love for You and Your Son to be my sole motivation for everything I do. I don’t want anything to be done out of a sense of duty, for that can often lead to a feeling of forced service. Instead, I want to run a race of trying to outlove Your love for me, full well knowing it will be impossible. But I still want to try. For You have loved me so much by sending Your Son to die for my sins so that I can be with You both in heaven.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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