Couch Race

“We’re going to race 100 times around the couch. Is that okay?”

A long sigh sputtered out of my mouth, clearing the dust off my laptop and aimed at my eager older son. Cole bounced excitedly up and down across the great room, smiling ear to ear.

We’d just taken a mile walk around the neighborhood followed by a half hour in the backyard playing light saber-soccer-dodge ball. Plus they had an hour of PE and a 45 minute recess at school that day…

 If only I could bottle and sell their energy to adults.

“Isn’t 100 times a bit much? How about 50 times each?”

I looked back and forth between my two bouncy boys.

“Or, you could race in the yard.”

“We already raced there. We want to do a couch race.”

Couch race? Now that’s an oxymoron!  

“Fine, but do it one at a time so you don’t crash into each other or furniture.”

I grabbed the earplugs by my laptop, pulled on my bulletproof vest, and hunkered down. (Okay, this sentence is pure fiction – but possible.) Chase took a turn first, his blond head bobbing and bare feet smacking the carpet as he traced the L-shape of our couch in the middle of the great room. Round and round he went, giggling and squealing while his brother counted laps.

Cole eagerly waited for his turn to jog around our couch, and as my eyes followed our sons’ couch race I thought about the upcoming lesson I’d be teaching in Sunday school.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24

That week we were learning about Paul’s powerful analogy of running the Christian race of faith well. Throughout his many letters, the apostle Paul’s words – and ministry – remind us that Christ followers press toward the goal of knowing our Savior more and living Him in our lives. 

This is no couch race. The race for Christ is grueling, counter-culture, often unpopular and misunderstood, a day-by-day, grace-filled and faith-powered journey toward our Savior’s heart. We run our race for Christ, for an eternal reward that cannot be measured and will not be taken away – because we run for an imperishable crown of life.  

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” (9:25)

Sometimes the glinting medal from my 2009 triathlon catches my eye, a blue and silver beacon of a hard-fought victory against fear (swimming in a lake!) and a reminder of months of rigorous training. Getting in shape for that race meant strict discipline in the monotonous moments of each day – putting in an hour either running, biking, or in the pool, eating right to fuel my body, and making sure I was getting enough rest.

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (9:27)

One of the most striking traits I’ve learned about Paul while studying Acts and 1 Corinthians is his absolute devotion to his Lord and Savior. He was truly clay in the Potter’s hands. He knew that in order to run the race of faith, he had to be disciplined for Christ while totally surrendered to Christ.

Paul ran his race well because he kept his eyes on the Prize – knowing our Savior more and sharing Him with others.

“None of these things [trials, imprisonment, tribulations] move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Lord, one day I want to utter Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7 and know in my heart my life reflects them well. But I can run well only when I’m found in You and Your word.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Attract or Repel?

I stepped into the classroom and let out a tired but grateful sigh. 2012 was here!

It was New Year’s Day and I was teaching 2^nd and 3^rd grade Sunday school. January 1st would be our last lesson in Acts, and though I was excited about starting Romans I also felt nostalgia about finishing the book of Acts.

My mind went back to spring of 2011 when we started the Bible’s first-hand account of the early church. We learned about Peter and the disciples’ Spirit-lead faith, about God breaking chains both physical and spiritual, and about the apostles’ determination to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the Jewish people – and eventually with the Gentiles, too.

We read about the early church’s persecution and the first Christian martyr, Stephen, and about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. Later we saw the evidence of Paul’s changed heart as he preached Jesus Christ to all who would listen, we learned about Paul’s time in prison and the letters he penned to the churches while behind bars, and we read about his travels and shipwreck on Malta.  

This week the lesson was in Acts 28:17-31 and the memory verse was Acts 28:28. The pointed words spoken by Paul sum up the book of Acts well and still resonate today.

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”

Paul’s main concern – even after he was arrested, wrongly accused, and placed under indefinite house arrest - was not in clearing his name or getting out of the difficult situation he was in.

Paul’s central focus was telling others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even if some in his audience didn’t believe.  

After placing the red marker back on the whiteboard shelf, I went over to sort the large Ziploc bag I brought from home. It contained magnets and various other items for the lesson’s activity. I was excited because I knew the kids would really enjoy the hands-on activity and how well it tied in to the heart of our lesson – that it’s important we share the truth of Jesus, even if people don’t believe us.

Like the magnets, some would attract while others would repel the gospel.

Inside the bag were a couple other magnets, Lego pieces, paper clips, rocks, a nail, small toys, and other random objects. The kids would guess which items would attract and which would repel and then test them out. 

I also brought along a little red lobster that clings to the side of our fridge. Who would think a tiny stuffed animal crustacean would attract to the magnet? It was so funny to hear the kids’ surprised squeaks when two tiny red claws stuck decisively to the magnet, and it reminded me that we never know who will attract and who will repel to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul experienced this firsthand when the Jewish leaders came to listen to him speak about his faith.

“So when they [the Jewish leaders] had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.” ~ Acts 28:23 & 24

As I read and studied that section I was struck by Paul’s great burden for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Verse 24 says that he talked about Jesus, “from morning till evening.” All day! And rather than be upset that some in the crowd didn’t believe, Paul plugged on in his preaching Christ. During two more years of house arrest in Rome, Paul continued speaking Jesus to anyone who would listen…”preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” (Acts 28:31)

This New Year, as we make resolutions and begin with a clean slate of hopes and goals, remember He who made our slates clean. Jesus Christ. Though some we come into contact with will repel God’s word and His work in our lives, others will attract to our Savior.

Lord, give us the courage to tell others about You, even if they don’t believe.