TUESDAY: Tough Run

-CoNnEcT- It was the day of the big race and everyone had been training for months to win this thing. The race was a ten-mile run and would primarily run along the main roads of the town and on the flat land through some of the woods. Each mile would be marked with a florescent green sign pointing the runners in the right direction and affirming them in their countdown to the finish. The goal was for everyone to finish, but it would be inevitable that some would fall behind. These were people who were running with a purpose. They were people with a rare disease and the grand prize for the winner was the cure to the illness.

The runners lined up and the starting shot was fired; they were off! Each ran at their own pace, some quick and with shorter strides while others ran at a slower pace to ensure longevity. By and large, the group stayed fairly close together.

After about a mile and a half, one of the runners suddenly disappeared into the woods. Many people wondered why he would have gone that route, after all, running through the woods was much more intense and covered with rocks and streams to cross. But this runner had studied the map. He knew the rules, and he knew the trail. Although this trip through the woods would require much more strength and endurance, this runner was willing to leave the crowd and journey the rough terrain. In the end, he knew that his chances of winning the race would improve, even if it were a lot harder to make it to that finish line. He was determined to win. He was determined to survive.

By the 9th mile, nearly a third of the runners had slowed to a walk and the rest a steady jog. The crowd approached the final mile sign and the excitement began to stir. They had run the whole course. They had endured sweat and pain in the long haul through the Public Square and on the open roads. Finally, they were nearing a resting place.

The runner in the woods felt this same excitement. He too was coming to the end of his run. He had weaved in and out of trees, hurdled over rocks and fallen logs, splashed through the cool, wet streams, and nearly lost his lungs as he trekked up the steep hills he had not expected. At last, a clearing was in sight… a cure was close.

As the mass of people began to come within a few hundred yards of the finish line, the spectators began to cheer. The man who had taken the rougher road cut back onto the main trail and was in the lead. He was running steady and determined, and the rest of the crowd followed close behind. The tape was drawn and the anticipation was building when finally, the single runner burst through the finish and collapsed into the arms of the crowd. This man would receive the cure for his sickness. This man had run with all his might, on a path much more difficult than what was the norm and he finished with a promise to live.

-ReFlEcT- Read Matthew Chapter 7
Key Verses: 13-14
In Jesus’ teaching, he explains that as believers, we are called to journey through a narrow gate that ends after a hard road. He claims that through this path, a person can find life. His illustration is one of the life of a Christian and the life of a non-Christian.

Many people think that being a Christian is easy. They think that everything in your life becomes good and that you never have to struggle, but even Jesus teaches that it isn’t true.

All around us people choose to follow the crowd. It is easy to do something when everyone is doing it, but to make a choice to do something different AND more difficult makes a huge statement. It is rare to find a person who will do things the right way instead of always trying to find a shortcut!

The scripture makes clear that there are not too many people who actually get on the right path that leads to life. It’s too hard. In fact, he even says that the road that leads to destruction is easy and wide. Most people would rather journey that way.

-DiReCt- Jesus wants us to live an abundant life. He wants us to live with peace and joy, and to reach the end of this race called “life” and be cured from our disease, which is sin. We can never escape sin and its effects in our world until we finally are united with God in heaven. It is then that those who have run the hard path will receive the gift of life, while those who took the easy route will miss out.

It is easy to do whatever you want. It is easy to treat people however you feel like. It is easy to live life considering yourself first and only. It’s easy to live without God because then you don’t have to think about what He wants; only what you want. But all of those lead to destruction in the end.

Make sure you have studied out the map God has given you. Be sure that you have geared up and prepared to take the hard road, and journey the path that not everyone else is willing to take. In the end, you will find eternal life rather than destruction at the end of a long race. You run through life one way or the other, so make it count!

-What path do you find yourself on, a difficult or an easy one in life?
-How can you stay focused to continue down the hard path of following Jesus?
-What are some areas of your life that still remain on the path that everyone else is going down?
-Do you want to win the prize of life? Why?
God, we are all running this race called life. Sometimes we think following you is easy because all we have to do is believe—please help us to realize that there is more to our journey that comes with believing. We need you to help us get through the rough spots in our lives. We need you to show us how to follow your path when it seems lonely, boring and confusing. Help us to take the risks we need to so that we can run to Win the prize of life. We need to win that cure that you have already given to us in Jesus. We want to follow him. Give us wisdom on how to. Amen.