Tsunami Ministries Devo by Steve Keaton
Monday, April 6th, 2009
Title: Keep Running
Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now 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.

All my life I have been an athlete. I’ve have always tried to stay active and do my best to keep in shape. Sometimes that shape has been a bit rounder than other times, but I have usually tried to keep moving. Whether it was playing sports like football, basketball and baseball throughout my school years and even as an adult playing softball, golf and even some pick-up b-ball, I have loved the competition that sports brings with it. And even over the past 10 years I have kind of directed that passion for activity into some different directions. I’ve competed in a few triathlons, run a few distance races and other things like that. And even now you can find me at the gym 5 or so days a week lifting weights and running on the treadmill. Man, if I didn’t work out I’d probably weigh 500lbs. God did not bless us Keaton’s with a metabolism.
My relationship with running has always been one of the Love-Hate variety. At the age of 39 I find that sometimes I have to spend more time stretching for the run than the actual run itself. And when I get started, I can feel every twist and pull of every muscle, tendon and ligament for the first mile of so. It is almost as if my body is fighting itself as every joint gets lubricated. And even then my mind begins talking to me. I know I sound crazy, but at the beginning of each run I can hear my brain telling, “Dude! What are you doing? You’re getting too old for this! Come on Steve! Just stop running. It is okay man, everyone’s doing it!” And you know what? As these thoughts run through my mind I actually find myself beginning to seriously think about stopping. But, then I begin to tell myself that I can do it. I can finish the distance I’m shooting for that day. And then my mind begins to take over and I find the strength to push through. When I finish that run, and walk away, I always feel the same way. I always feel exilerated, stronger and as if I accomplished something that I could have easily given up on. Stopping is easy. I also know that once I stop, it would be a whole lot harder to start back. So, I push through and reach my goal.
Over the years I have really come to realize that our journey with Christ is very similar to that of a long distance run. I think a lot of people tend to view our Christian Walk as a sprint to the finish line, but I am certain that it is a very long and intense run that requires a tremendous about of endurance. Think about your journey. Where have you come from and where are you trying to get to? As Christ-Followers we should understand that our finish line is when we leave this world and enter the gates of paradise. But there is a lot of distance between this place and that. And during our travels, we will most likely experience a lot of questions and doubt to whether or not we can finish the race. This world will do all it can to try to get us to stop. The world will do all it can to cause us to stumble, fall, slow down and make us question ourselves and our ability to stay on the course. But we must push through all of that. We must draw on the fact that the strength we have in us for this race doesn’t even come from us. Instead, we are to understand that we are strengthened by our relationship with our Savior and our Creator. And the more we push on, the more the focus on the finish line, the more we commit to completing the course ahead of us, the stronger we will run and we will finish.
During the triathlons and other 10K runs I have competed in, one thing that was always a blessing was that as I made my way down the race course, it was always lined with people. Strangers, most of which I had never seen before and hadn’t seen since. And these strangers were not just quietly standing there as we raced past. No, these people played a vital role of giving us a great deal of support through cheering for the runners, waving and encouraging us to keep running. I can’t tell you how much those people blessed us during those times. And because of their encouragement I was able to push through the pain and finish. Well, know that you are also surrounded by people who love you and are encouraging you as you run the faith race in front of you. Listen closely, because they are there praying for you, cheering for you and letting you know that you can make it.
And one day, as we cross the finish line despite every attempt this world has made to get us to stop and quit, know that you will stand before God and receive something far greater than any amount of prize money or an Olympic Gold Medal. You will hear your Creator say, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Well done.” So, let’s keep running. Oh! Stretch first. You’d hate to pull a hammy.

Something to Think About:
• How do you think you’re doing in your race?
• How can you find the encouragement you need to continue on your journey?
• Are you training for the race? Fellowship, prayer, study? These are the things that give us fuel for our journey.
• How can God use you to help encourage others to not quit running and continue on their journey?
• How can God use you to reach others who haven’t received Christ as their savior and then help them start their own race?
• Make a list of those people and how God can use you to reach them.

A Few Minutes with God:
God, help me to understand that this Christian journey I am on is not a sprint, but a marathon. Help me to open my heart and mind to hear and experience the love and encouragement from so many people as I run the race ahead of me. And help me to do the same to encourage others on their path towards a life in paradise with you. Amen.