Purpose in Every Step

The Christian life is not only a race that we must run well; it’s also a race that we must finish. It isn’t worth it if we lead the pack for years and then fall back in the end.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! . . . So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24, 26–27 NLT).

Although we run to win, we must not compete with each other. God gives each of us our own lane, a course to follow. We run for the sake of giving our best to the One who gave His best for us.

Paul said, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT).

Here, Paul gives us the image of a runner, perhaps in the last lap of the race. With the goal in sight and every muscle straining, the athlete is determined to cross the finish line.

Sadly, story after story in the Bible tells us about people who had enormous potential, who started well but ended miserably. Don’t let that happen to you. If you need to correct your course, do it now.

We’re about to begin a fresh year with new opportunities. Let’s seize them. Let’s wholly follow the Lord our God.