How to Run With Resolve

by: Sarah Argo

 

I would venture to say, everybody loves a coach. The simple declaration, “Thanks Coach,” is a phrase that is endearing to overhear because of the relationship that it expresses. Coaches are known for bringing the best out of people and being, above all, encouragers. I can picture many times in my past as a runner when I would be warming up alongside a track or stretching near the starting line of a 5k race. The memories are strong of nervous anticipation, but always paired with a memory of a moment when a coach would intervene. With just the right chosen few words, my coach would send me to that day’s start position with focus and determination. I could do this. I had trained as was needed that week. I was ready. Don’t worry about the competition. Focus on the path before me. Run and don’t look back. Coaches are a treasure to the serious athlete.

As Christians we have a race to run daily. And there is godly training necessary to run well. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 speaks of this training and reminds us that the effort we make towards godliness holds a promise not just for the present life but “also for the life to come.” Paul brings a coaching encouragement to Timothy in this first letter to him. He shows him where to focus his current training and steps next to him at the starting line, so to speak, and says “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers and example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4: 12,14-15).

Paul also writes a letter to the Thessalonians and says that he thanks God for their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3). All three of those characteristics that Paul recognized in the Thessalonians required training. The church had shown fruit of walking in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ and Paul encouraged them to continue faithfully on that path. He knows these tasks are hard and he does not miss an opportunity to point out how someone is running well. He rejoices to remember how these he had the joy of sharing the gospel with had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven,” (verse 9). He steps up to them through this letter, puts his hand on their shoulders and directs their eyes towards the race set before them. “We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:14,16-18).

Encouragement like this is needed for Christians just as a runner who is moments away from a current day’s race. When they stand at the activity for which they have been trained, there is always a certain level of fear with which to wrestle. Will they be able to do it? Is it worth the pain involved? Will they be humiliated? There’s even a chance something they see causes them to be dismayed or become fainthearted. The neighboring county champ is already standing at the starting line, with a multitude of fans cheering his or her name. Whispers of doubt and insecurity seep in, and the determination to go forward diminishes. In this moment a resolve is challenged, and the ability to step up to the line with confidence seems hopeless. But then approaches the Coach, and there is yet hope for the runner.

Maybe right now you, like myself, can relate to this picture in your life as a Christian. Your courage or resolution to follow Jesus into the hard courses of your life has been challenged, and you stand unsure if you can run the race set before you. As Christians we too have a Coach who is standing beside us. His name is Jesus and, if we will listen to Him, he always has a timely Word to encourage us to step to the line. Perhaps today you would hear Him say to you, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). One wonderful thing about Jesus is that His encouragement far excedes that of an earthly coach. Hebrews 12:3 says to “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Jesus has already won the race we are about to compete in today or tomorrow or the next day. So look to Him, step up to that line, and remember that because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we too can lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set before us.

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11