"Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win." I Corinthians 9:24
I was not a very good sport growing up, and I hated losing. I didn't always play by the rules, and I blamed others when our team failed. Why did I love winning because THAT MEANS THE OTHER PERSON LOST. I thought I was better when I won. I believed others thought of me as being important and worthy of something because of the victory. What a warped sense of thought.
Then something happened and I watched two brothers grow up. They were about 8 years younger than I was. Talk about poor sports, they made me look like an angel. They threw things, yelled at each other, complained, threw temper tantrums, and were a disruption at their house and in the entire neighborhood. How could someone be so selfish, so rude, and so uncaring toward each other.
My mom offered a trophy to one of the boys if they could accomplish a certain task, and at that point I realized that the victory of accomplishment was not very challenging, nor was the trophy something that had any real meaning. Winning at something that has no challenge is pretty meaningless.
Jesus Christ had victory over death, He sacrificed, He humbled Himself, He gave and gave, He was willing to take the form of a servant. Each of those aspects was a desire to win.
As a person, I would like to encourage myself and you to have an attitude like Jesus. Let's find ourselves wanting to please God today in two ways - with our words and with our actions. Let's please Him with our words by being complementary and kind, truthful and respectful. Let's please Him with our actions by seeing ourselves serving Him and not anyone else. May our time be for His glory today.
How about if we set a timer on our phone for every two hours today and do a little check in with God when the timer goes off. Have I used wholesome and honest words, and have I determined to serve Him today?
