Running with Purpose


Read 1 Corinthians 8:1 through 11:1


Have you ever watched the runners completing the Boston marathon, or the sprinters competing in the Olympic trials? It would be difficult to find an athlete at either event running aimlessly. Rather, you see men and women focused on running as purposely and directly to the finish line as possible. The apostle Paul used athletic diligence to picture his commitment to following Christ: “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26).


It’s easy to get wrapped up in day-to-day living. We go to work, take care of our kids, and pay the bills. But a full life in Christ demands more than going through the motions. Rather than “running” through our lives with no purpose or direction from one day to the next, we should be listening to God’s special and unique plans and purposes for each of our lives.


Have you taken time recently to reflect on your life as a believer? If the distractions of your day-to-day life have kept you from completely following God’s plans, take time to redirect and refocus your eyes on Him.

Challenge for Today:

Ask God to remind you of His plans for your life and to give you the strength to run toward
them with purpose and direction.

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