Run the Race

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) - Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

So, how do we run this race, and what are we running for?

Luke 10:25-28 (NKJV)
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him [Jesus], saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
He said to him, "What is written in the law?  What is your reading of it?"
So he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"
And he said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

Sweet, so the prize is eternal life, and to run the race properly, we love God with everything we have and love our neighbors as much as ourselves and take care of them like we would want to be taken care of.

But I hear a lot of people say, "I am just not as passionate about God as I was before."  Or how about, "I do love God, but I am just not motivated to do the things He wants me to do (ex. read Bible, change your lifestyle, finish a task He has given you)."

One thing I see a lot of fellow Compassion International sponsors say is, "I love my kids, but I just don't write them.  I used to write them a lot, but I just can't get motivated enough to write them."  Then they go online and ask fellow sponsors why this is and how to fix it, and they usually get a lot of detailed "fixes" to try out.

But really, it is not that complicated to get back to loving God and loving people.  Here is what you do.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus..."

Step #1 - Identify what is getting in the way of you loving God with everything you have and loving people as yourself.  Take a step back and examine your life.  Scrutinize who you are, what you are standing for, your thoughts, your actions, etc.

Is it a sin pattern and disobedience to God?  1 John 1:6 (NKJV) says, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth," and 1 John 2:5 (NKJV) says, "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him."

Is it discord/strife with someone else?  Do you look down upon others and think you're better than them?  Instead of loving someone, do you dislike/hate them and wish that something bad would happen to them?  1 John 2:9-11 (NKJV) says, "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.  He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

Step #2 - Get whatever is holding you back out of the way.  Stop wasting time and stop making excuses.  You are self-destructing if you simply do nothing about it.  Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."  Stop disregarding what Jesus has done for you and get the road block out of the path you are trying to run your race on.

Step #3 - Refocus your vision, continue your race, and don't give up.  Remember, in Hebrews 12:1, it said to look onto Jesus as you run, so focus on Him, not your past or the temptations around you.  And Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV) says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  You will not only reap eternal life for yourself, but you will also bring others with you.