So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. – 1 Corinthians 9:24, AMP

As I watched my daughter’s soccer game today, I noticed a trend among many of the 8-year olds scattered around the field. All of them were aggressive in defending their goal from the attack of the opposing team, but few of them were as aggressive when it was their turn to attack. Many of the girls on offense ran hard until they got within striking distance of their opponent’s goal. Then, as they neared the goal, they became tentative, almost terrified to take a shot. I didn’t interview any of the budding soccer stars to find out why they were so tentative, but I imagine that some sort of fear – perhaps fear of taking a shot, missing, and looking bad, or perhaps fear of running into the goalie and getting hurt – was the reason for their pulling up instead of their pushing through. Whatever the reason was for stopping instead of attacking, the end result was a loss for my daughter’s team. Thankfully, the ride home was short.

Many Christians live their lives in much the same way as my daughter’s soccer team played their game: aggressive on defense and weak on offense. Oh, we’ll delve deep into the Word, wrap our arms around Jesus, and pray with fervor when our Opponent is on the attack. But when it is our turn to push back Satan’s forces by winning souls, by making disciples, or by shoring up our faith in preparation for the next battle, we pull up without ever taking a shot on goal. In 1 Corinthians 9, God (through Paul) likens us to runners in a race. In 2 Timothy 2, God (through Paul) likens us to soldiers. In both cases, He likens us to people who face their battles with intensity and aggressiveness. Of course, victory is supplied by The Lord. We cannot earn victory in our own strength. But God is pleased with effort, and He rewards His children when they instensely and aggressivley serve His purposes in faithful obedience.

Too often we treat the Christian life as if it were a leisurely stroll through the park. It isn’t. Instead, it is a race, it is a war, and it is something we are to pursue with the utmost energy.

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