Dear devotional friend,
On November 24, 2019, Julia Webb of Little Rock, Ark., made news when she won the Route 66 half-marathon – while pushing her baby daughter in a stroller. Her time – 1:21:24 – actually set a new world record for fastest half-marathon while pushing a stroller.
There’s lot of feel-goods in this story, but here’s what I love the most: Julia, this busy mom of three, didn’t run for herself. She was running with and representing LIFE Runners, the largest pro-life running group in the US.
"The issue of abortion needs more people to stand up..." she told the reporter. "I would love to see LIFE Runners continue to grow and if it can save one woman from getting an abortion it will be worth it."
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My dear friend, our days are also filled with “races.” There are the short races – getting to the end of my work day, or completing homework with the kids – and there are the longer races – fighting through a serious illness, discerning a career change, or considering a family move.
But big or small, these races can distract us from the real race God has us running: our race to Jesus, to our eternal destiny, to Heaven. Every human being is running a race that ends with Jesus. But not every person will choose the path that will get them there.
And we know that each year, the lives of more than 600,000 precious children, created in the image of God, are lost to abortion - and denied the opportunity run this race at all.
I’m the first to admit that my own mini-races distract me. I don't remember the real race I’m running, I forget about the cloud of witnesses cheering me on.
But when we throw aside these hindrances and let God take over, He'll do whatever it takes, even allowing us to suffer, in order to keep us on His race that leads to eternal life.
It won't be easy. In fact, in Hebrews, Paul tells us that there will be opposition when we run God’s race. Why? Because we are battling the world, the flesh, and the devil himself. Because, when we stand for Jesus, we will stand out.
And make no mistake: When we stand up for the sanctity of life, when we battle the culture of death and allow God to sanctify us, we will really stand out.
That’s what is required when we run His race.
So in this, my last devotion to you for SOHLs month, I have a challenge:
How are you like Julie, representing Life while you run the race?
Ok, so maybe you aren't an actual runner. I'm not either. But there are things we can do! We can use opportunities to speak truth in conversations – or put a Pregnancy Clinic bumper magnet on our car – or share truth-telling messages on social media – or encourage the prolife conversation at our churches.
It is certain: we will have opposition. But when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we WILL have perseverance, we will NOT grow weary, and we will NOT lose heart. We WILL remember that we are running God’s race that leads to Him.
And at the finish line, we’ll find our sweet Jesus waiting for us, along with His cloud of witnesses, cheering us on and welcoming us home.