Running the Race—Part 9: Focus

I’m not much of a runner, but I do walk (from time to time) for exercise. When I walk for exercise, I am pretty focused … I may wave at someone I see along the way, but I usually keep going. However, if AJ and Wes are with me, they tend to get distracted. They like to check the apple trees along the road to see if anything is growing. They are observant, taking everything in, and often stopping to take a look along the way.

Now, I am not saying that we shouldn’t “stop and smell the roses” from time to time. What I am saying is that “running the race” successfully takes focus. I’m reminded of a commercial for a certain beverage: Two brothers enter a tandem bike race through the Alps, pull out a picture of their father, and say, “for papa.” They are in the lead when a nail punctures a tire. One brother starts making a repair, when the other gets distracted by a drink being poured. The second brother then “applies” the nail to the other tire, and their race is over. As they get their beverage, they notice a picture of their father who had apparently also been distracted during a race, and you see the rest of the racers go by in the distance. But, because they were distracted, they didn’t even notice … and, at this time, they didn’t even care.

As we run the race of life, we may get distracted from time to time. Fact is, the world, and the devil, constantly throw distractions our way. The question is, are we going to get off-track, or even worse, abandon the race? I hope and pray not! 1 Corinthians 9:24 speaks of running to obtain the prize. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Doing that takes focus.

So, today, I remind you to stay in the race, or “keep your head in the game,” and don’t let the world distract you. Remember the mission God has given you: to share the Gospel and make disciples, so that in the end, you hear “well done, good and faithful servant!”

In His grip,
Pastor Decker