I ran my third half marathon on the 4th of July. It was a great race for me because I was able to have some running redemption after a not so great half marathon last October. Aside from being a great race for me personally, I came to the realization that God's Kingdom is never more present to me than when I am among the community of runners.
This is a bit strange, coming from a girl who has attended some form of church for her entire life. You would think that I'd be getting glimpses of the Kingdom at church or within other Christian organizations, but I've never one experienced the overwhelming feeling of the presence of the Kingdom in church or among Christians as I have among runners.
In the running community, there is encouragement, celebration, frustration and communion among perfect strangers, all united in one goal, finishing the race well. As I thought more about this, I realized how closely the running community parallels God's design for his Kingdom.
I started to think about how the church could learn a thing or two from the running community. I have received so much more encouragement from complete strangers running alongside me or standing on the sidelines than I have from my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Why would strangers be more encouraging than body of Christ?
Is it the shared goal? The knowledge of the common struggle that every one is facing? People connect through their struggles, so why are we always so afraid to talk about them in the church. Why do we keep them hidden? Why wouldn't we talk about them, let the struggle be know and be real so that we can share in the struggle and encourage one another? Don't we want to be there together at the finish line to say to one another, "Hey, good job!"
I want to run my race well, which is why I'm so excited to have found a place where I get the best of both worlds, Team World Vision. I get to run together with people who love running and want to be the hands and feet of Christ to bring clean water to people all over the world who need it. It doesn't get any better than that.
Since joining Team World Vision, I've grown as a runner, as a person and as a follower of Jesus. I've been pushed outside my comfort zone, but had others right there alongside me, encouraging me to keep going.
Common goals unite people, which is why I think we, as Christians, should put our differences aside and start focusing on the one common goal that we are supposed to have.
Love.
Friends, if you call yourself a Christian, can I challenge you to outdo one another in showing honor? I guarantee you there are all kinds of people out there who need your encouragement. Just a simple hello, an offer to help, a small handwritten note, a "good job", any of these things can turn someone's day around. But let's also take the time to get to know people, to hear their stories, learn about their struggles and love them despite them, because we owe it to one another, we owe it to Jesus.
In The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns so beautifully describes what this can look like:
So get out there, start running your race, change the world, and enjoy the encouragement from the friends you will meet along the way.
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This is a bit strange, coming from a girl who has attended some form of church for her entire life. You would think that I'd be getting glimpses of the Kingdom at church or within other Christian organizations, but I've never one experienced the overwhelming feeling of the presence of the Kingdom in church or among Christians as I have among runners.
In the running community, there is encouragement, celebration, frustration and communion among perfect strangers, all united in one goal, finishing the race well. As I thought more about this, I realized how closely the running community parallels God's design for his Kingdom.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1, ESV)
I started to think about how the church could learn a thing or two from the running community. I have received so much more encouragement from complete strangers running alongside me or standing on the sidelines than I have from my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Why would strangers be more encouraging than body of Christ?
Is it the shared goal? The knowledge of the common struggle that every one is facing? People connect through their struggles, so why are we always so afraid to talk about them in the church. Why do we keep them hidden? Why wouldn't we talk about them, let the struggle be know and be real so that we can share in the struggle and encourage one another? Don't we want to be there together at the finish line to say to one another, "Hey, good job!"
I want to run my race well, which is why I'm so excited to have found a place where I get the best of both worlds, Team World Vision. I get to run together with people who love running and want to be the hands and feet of Christ to bring clean water to people all over the world who need it. It doesn't get any better than that.
Since joining Team World Vision, I've grown as a runner, as a person and as a follower of Jesus. I've been pushed outside my comfort zone, but had others right there alongside me, encouraging me to keep going.
Common goals unite people, which is why I think we, as Christians, should put our differences aside and start focusing on the one common goal that we are supposed to have.
Love.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40, ESV)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12, ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34, ESV)
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10, ESV)
Friends, if you call yourself a Christian, can I challenge you to outdo one another in showing honor? I guarantee you there are all kinds of people out there who need your encouragement. Just a simple hello, an offer to help, a small handwritten note, a "good job", any of these things can turn someone's day around. But let's also take the time to get to know people, to hear their stories, learn about their struggles and love them despite them, because we owe it to one another, we owe it to Jesus.
In The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns so beautifully describes what this can look like:
Jesus showed us another way. Don't hate the sinner, but do show him love. Don't be judgmental, but do offer forgiveness. In a phrase, the "do's" of our faith are so much more powerful than the "don'ts." If we are to truly let our lights shine before the world, it must be through those do's that the world finds so attractive. The first-century world was amazed by Christ because of what He did: Jesus healed the sick, loved the poor, touched the leper, stood up for the down-and-out, forgave the sinner, condemned the religious hypocrites, dined with prostitutes and corrupt tax collectors, challenged the wealthy and powerful, fought for justice for the oppressed, defied His culture, renounced materialism, demonstrated that greatness is found in serving--and then died that others might live. These actions--performed by one man--changed the world. These same actions, when carried out by His followers, still change the world today." (pg. 230)
So get out there, start running your race, change the world, and enjoy the encouragement from the friends you will meet along the way.
