What is the victor’s crown for your life? In his letters throughout the New Testament, the Apostle Paul made several references to crowns: the victor’s crown, crowns of righteousness, and the crowns or rewards that are waiting at the end of a successful Christian race. What is the victor’s crown for you?
One of Jessica and my favorite pastimes is watching the summer Olympic games. We love the Olympics so much that we clear out our schedule every four years to watch nearly every minute of the aired competitions. There is something so inspiring about watching an athlete train, contend, and overcome adversity to be crowned an Olympic champion. Those moments stir and quicken the human soul and they give us a vision for how we can approach the priorities of our personal lives. What would victory look like in your daily life? You and I are not Olympic athletes in the sense that we have a little niche that we are striving to dominate like Olympic sprinting or platform diving, but there are definitely areas of our lives where we want to overcome and win. What would it look like for us to be Olympic caliber athletes in the areas of our lives that matter most?
We need to contend like Olympic athletes in life because God and the people we love deserve our best efforts. God is glorified and our loved ones are blessed when we pay a price to grow in Christlikeness, maximize our gifts, and walk in our purpose. Additionally, we are blessed in these efforts because this kind of living is the most rewarding, invigorating way to live.
So what is the victor’s crown for you? I hope you have identified the crown that you are striving for in life. I hope you are chasing God’s call, contending for God’s prize, and experiencing the life that comes from a noble and glorious pursuit of God’s victor’s crown.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Amen! KLU!
Chris, I am so moved and blessed by these writings of yours. I love them! This one made me think of Derek Redmond in the ‘92 Barcelona games. I’m sure you remember his crumbling to the track on the first straightaway in the men’s’ 400m finals. As he tried to hobble forward, his Dad would not be dissuaded, could not be contained by security personnel, but rather made his way to his child from the stands. He put his arm around his son and said, “ you don’t have to do this.” According to reports, Derek said, “yes I do.” His father replied, “then let’s do this together.” Seventy thousand people stood and applauded Derek Redmond that day for coming in last. It was the loudest ovation of the games. Perhaps they understood how difficult is was for him to get to that finish line.
I think God does the same with us-locks arms and gets us to our finish line. He will not be diverted from this. If we could only hear the encouragement and roar of the saints during this especially hard race battling COVID, and depression, and loneliness, and uncertainty. What we can cling to is knowing God will find His way to the track-to us, just where we have fallen.
Chris, your writing is anointed. Your speaking carries power and truth. I am so grateful you have this call on your life, at this time, allowing the trajectory of our lives to intersect. Blessings. Paul
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Every message a gem. Thank you! God bless you guys!
AND THATS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!!!