A Reason to Run

I just love when the Lord gently interjects His instruction so naturally in my life.

Recently I was running in the evening, during that prolonged moment when dusk is turning to dark.  Racing against the blackening sky and all of the boogie men that come out and eat me when I run at night, I urgently picked up my pace and felt myself run harder.  Again, this past weekend I was running to a local coffee shop.  I felt my stride strengthen as I moved expectantly towards morning espresso, good conversation, and sharing joy with a best friend—a few of my favorite things.

God’s lesson was so clear: it is easier and essential to run with purpose.  It makes me go faster.

Of course, as He made this truth tangible for me, I remembered that He has already spoken about such things in His word:

There is a “race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).  And it is not a race run simply for the sake of the journey.  No, we “do not run aimlessly” or in vain (1 Corinthians 9:26), but we must run with a purpose.

Our motivation is not boogie men or coffee talk, our purpose is “to win the prize” to which God has called us (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Contrary to my common thinking that “the prize” is some elusive heavenly something that shines brightly in gold so that I can see it but never really know what it is, scripture is actually quite clear about “the prize” we are running towards (who knew?):

Holiness. (Hebrews 12:10)

Righteousness—not the kind that comes from me and things that I do but that depends only on faith. (Philippians 3:9) 

Knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection so that our souls—that feel dead on their own—can also be raised to life. (Philippians 3:10-11)

Being found in Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Purpose makes us go places.  I need that.  I need a reason to run.  

When I remember that I have a clear goal for everything I do, I will run harder, better, faster, stronger (had to).  

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)