Going for Gold

This week at the Olympics, athletes from around the world are going for gold! Their dedication is admirable, and we’re inspired by their stories of personal triumph. What’s just as inspiring is how they don’t quit, even after crushing defeats. Even the best of the best have had devastating failures, and yet time and again they renew their pursuit of that ultimate prize, the gold medal.

 ^“Commit your way to the Lord;
    place your trust in him, and he will act.´ -- Psalm 37:5

Like the athletes who recommit every day to their sport, we as Christians must renew our commitment every day to following Christ.  The Olympians pursue gold medals; do we pursue only the ‘gold’ of success at our work?

Or, instead, do we reach for ‘gold’ by following God’s Way and looking for Christ in the people we encounter?

We may take a moment to say a kind word to the delivery person or the server at lunch. We may befriend someone who doesn’t get much recognition, and look for opportunities to compliment them. When people feel affirmed, their heart expands and gives the Lord more room to fill them with His love. They may leave their work feeling more valuable as an employee, which may positively affect how they treat their loved ones at home.

The Eighth Commandment is ‘keep holy the Sabbath.’ When we set aside time for God, and share it with our friends and family, He sees our sacrifice and rewards us for it. God blesses our efforts and empowers all of us with even more of His love, strength, and grace. When we pursue the ‘gold’ of God’s love and place our trust in Him, He will act.

Athletes have victories and defeats, and so do we. And just as they have to get back up after a failure, so do we have to try again, and again. We acknowledge our mistakes and the choices we made that led us to sin; we ask God for His forgiveness and His grace; and then we work with His help to avoid those mistakes in the future.

Regardless of our past victories and failures, let’s recommit today and every day to pursuing God and His Way of love.

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize

for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

– Philippians 3:14

 

 “Lord, may I reach for the ‘gold’ of Your love.”

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