Just read that and pray. Why do we wait so long to truly realize what Jesus did for us? Why do we not go all in and passionately seek everything we need to be Christ-like.
Paul shares with us in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to Win!”
What does Jesus mean to you? Is this whole thing we’re doing real or make-believe? To me it is real and that means God’s word is my instruction manual and everything I read in it will inspire me to be better and Christ-like. This is God’s will for us, that we take His love seriously and do all we can to learn how Jesus lived and then model our lives after it and bear fruit.
Look what Paul goes on to say in verse 27, “I discipline my body like and athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”
What does our walk take? It takes hard work, focus, devotion and love. And that is exactly what Jesus showed the Father when He said not my will but yours.
In Luke chapter 13 verse 24 Jesus says, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”
Salvation is free through the blood of Jesus but we can’t be satisfied thinking we can do anything apart from Him. Jesus goes on to say in verse 25, “When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late.”
When that happens there will be no more chances, we need to understand we are called to be different. Once we hear the Good News and accept it we need to confess, believe, repent, be baptized and turn from the world and seek the Kingdom of God. And remember God has sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us in this adventure. Amen