2008 Run for the prize

1 Cor 9:24-27
If 2007 was seen as a race, how did you run? Did you cross the finish line with excitement, “Yes, what a great year.” Did you crawl across the line in despair, “Oh, I never want to go through another year like that.” Or did you just wake up on Tuesday morning and say, “Wow its 2008, how did I get here?”

Think back over last year, how did you run? At school/ university/ work did people say, “He was a fast runner, always on time, always giving his best.” “There is something different about the person.” At home did people say, “He is so lazy, I can’t get him to do anything.” or “She is such a wonderful person, her room is always clean, she always puts her clothes away.”

At church did people say, “He is so diligent, faithful in serving the Lord, always loving others.” Or, “She is always late for choir; she misses church all the time.”
Beginning a New Year we can always look back and see how we ran in that year. It can help us prepare for the New Year, 2008. How do you want to run in 2008?

Tips for running well.

1. Put God first. Matt 6:33
Seek God first. He knows what you need. Put him first and he will meet all your needs according to his riches in heaven.

2. Love one another. Jesus commandment is for us to love God and love each other. As you sow love to others you will receive it yourself.

3. Wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31
Give time to recharge yourself. “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”

4. Run to win the prize.
1 Cor 9:25 “... but we for an imperishable crown.” Our life does not count just for now. What we do here counts for eternity. Pursuing that nice house, car, TV, those expensive clothes doesn’t last. All this is only temporal. It’s OK to have those things, but to get caught in the trap of living your life just to have that stuff is empty.
There is no prize for the person who has the most stuff.

By the grace of God we are saved from our sin and brought into a relationship with God. We were once separated from God, but for those who know Jesus we are now righteous before God.
We don’t have to do another thing to earn His favour. Forgiveness of sins is ours, healing is ours, freedom is ours, deliverance is ours.
We don’t have to wait for New Years Eve to hear the Buddhist temple sound the bell 108 times. Jesus cleansed us from sin forever. He has taken all your sin.

The one thing waiting for us is eternal life and an imperishable crown, a crown of life.
So make this year count for eternity. Whose future can you change for eternity? Someone maybe destined for an eternity separated from God, but we can change their eternity by sharing the love of Jesus.

If you don’t know Jesus why not make this year the beginning if a new life for you. He will give your life meaning and purpose.