Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Our sixth and final Olympics parallel is that we should finish knowing we gave our all.

Today’s scripture, 2 Timothy 4:6‭-‬8 (NLT) shares the Apostle Paul’s victory speech…
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Consider…
“Leave it all on the field” is something that coaches often tell their players before a big game. To “leave it all on the field” basically means to give it everything you have. Don’t hold anything back. Every sporting event has a predetermined amount of time in which it is played.

Watching these Olympics has been inspiring. For example, I saw two inspirational moments yesterday.

First, I watched the youngest person to ever compete in track, 16 years old, ran the opening leg of the USA Men’s 4 X 400 relay. While that is inspiring by itself, it’s only part of the story. The young man did his best but ran out of energy and put the team in last place. This is where it gets good, he gave the baton to a man twice his age, who made up a little ground. Each leg run after the first young man made up his deficit and qualified for the final.

This makes me think of Galatians 6:1‭-‬2 (NLT) which exhorts…
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

As cool as the comeback was, the way that each teammate encouraged the young man after the race and reassured him that he belonged in the Olympics was even more inspiring.

If you see a fellow believer fall short in their leg of this Christian race, follow the examples of the USA 4 X 400 Olympic team and pick your teammate up. Pick them up physically, encourage them emotionally and strengthen them spiritually. Reassure them that they belong to Christ.

The second inspirationsl moment was the favorite to win the 100m race, but failed and won the bronze, had a chance for redemption. She gave her race all that she had but came up short. Fortunately today was a new day and she had three sisters that could give her a second chance to leave Paris with a gold medal. As she anchored the women’s 4 X 100m relay race for the US team, as she received the baton, the chance of her team placing in the top three seemed hopeless . However, this amazing athlete dug deep and overcame the deficit of everyone that ran before her. The team won the gold.

This reminded me of what Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31‭-‬32 (NLT)…
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus knew Peter would fail, as will we, but He also knew Peter’s race was not done. He knew that Peter was going to help his teammates win. This same Peter wrote…
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. – 2 Peter 1:1‭-‬4 NLT

So if you fail to win one of the races you are in, remember ‘denying Peter’ and find inspiration in how God still used him.

The Holy Spirit also guided me to Jude 1:20‭-‬23 (NLT) as another spiritual parallel. It exhorts…
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Just like this young lady rescued her teammates from defeat and won the gold, we should rescue others who faltered in our race.

In today’s scripture, Paul gave his final victory speech, where he said I have done everything I was called and chosen to do. And I have rescued everyone God showed me needing rescuing, Jews and Gentiles alike. Then he says the ultimate parallel statement…
And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness…

Doing right for others is a big part of living righteously for God. That’s why I think Paul knew when he claimed his crown of righteousness.

The Holy Spirit is telling me to let Paul’s last statement close our Olympics parallels. He said…
And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Since we are the ones who are eagerly awaiting Christ appearing, that means we have some more running for Jesus to do.

Today’s song is…
Finish Strong

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)