Running For The Prize

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2002
(Philippians 3:14)

I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.

Running for the prize. For those who love football, today is known as Championship Sunday. This afternoon, the New England Patriots will play the Pittsburgh Steelers for the right to represent the AFC in next week's Super Bowl, and the Philadelphia Eagles will play the St. Louis Rams to determine the representative from the NFC. The season that started out with such hope and promise in July, will be over for all but 2 teams by the end of the day, and next week, one of those teams will win the ultimate prize.. the Super Bowl.

The journey a professional football team takes from training camp, thru pre-season, the 16 game regular season, and finally the playoffs, is full of ups and downs. It is full of peaks and valleys. Along the way people get injured, teams often change strategies, and many events lead to the ultimate success they experience. St. Louis is now the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl, and just last year they had one of the worst defenses in football. New England lost it's starting quarterback early in the season and has played with an untested young man at that most critical position the last 13 games and through the playoffs. The bottom line is that all of these teams still alive, have overcome adversity, worked hard, kept their eye on the prize.

I appreciate you allowing me to talk sports with you, a subject I have loved since I was very, very young. The spiritual application here is obvious. Our Christian life is a journey. There are many things to overcome along the way. We often have to change strategy and gameplan at times. But through it all we MUST keep our eyes on the prize. We must not let the bumps in the road slow us down. It is important that even when things don't work out today, we don't give up and we stay focused on the prize.

Unlike football, we don't have to do it in our own strength. We have God on our side to give us wisdom, guidance, strength, and love to help us each step of the way. Unlike in a football game, where either team has a chance to win, God has already defeated our foe. Unlike a football game where you have to wait until the game is over to know the final score, we already know that in the end, if we know Christ as savior, WE WIN!!!!! How much easier should it be for us each day to keep focused on the prize when we know that no matter what, in the end, we will be victorious!

I love you, I care deeply about you, and God has placed me in your life to help you along your journey. My prayer for you today is that no matter what may be going on in your life, you always keep focused on the prize. You can't let the ups and downs of life keep you from your ultimate objective.

I truly believe that the Lord has allowed you to receive these Daily Devotionals to help keep you focused on the prize. It is so easy during the course of a day to lose sight of what we are really trying to accomplish. We get off-track much of the time which ultimately keeps us from the fullness of God's blessings. God wants you to stay focused, to stay on track, and to keep your eyes on the prize. Never forget that He loves you, and wants you to know and enjoy that love during your life and for eternity.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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