Discipleship: Let's get in the race!

Have you ever run a long race?  Maybe it was a 10K or 20K or even a marathon…

If you have, here is what you notice.  The people who line different parts of the route cheer for just about everyone.  If they see someone they know, they might jump up and down, but just the fact that people are out running brings others to line most of the route.  That’s usually encouraging.  
Most are still there for the guy in 1200^th place whenever he passes by.

They didn’t care if you were in the top 10 or middle of the pack or just barely making it.  In fact, those bringing up the rear probably got as much encouragement as those competing for first place. 

Why?

They were in the race.  They were stepping out.  They had left their comfort zone somewhere far behind them.

That’s a good model for discipleship.  We are not competing for first place with other people.  We only compete with our old self.  We want to leave that sucker in our dust.

We each run our own race setting aside our selfish nature.  We don’t have to be the fastest.  We don’t have to have the high-priced shoes.  We just keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and resist the patterns of this world.

We want to do our best in this race of discipleship, but we run knowing that our destination—life eternal—has already been secured by the blood of Jesus.  The race is not burdensome. 

Those who have never run, never know.  Runners appreciate those who cheer, but those who cheer can never fully appreciate what it is to run the race unless they have run one or two or two hundred of their own.

Life is more abundant if you are in the race.  Some people may not physically be able to run a 20K, but we who have received the gift of life and life eternal can all run a race of discipleship.

In fact, having received the gift of eternal life, we are already registered in the discipleship race.  All we have to do is start running.  It won’t be easy.  Not everyone will cheer you along.  Sometimes people will ridicule you from the sidelines, but running this race is worth it.

Understand first, this won’t be easy; but it will be worth it.

Discipleship:  Let’s do this!