“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” — Hebrews 12:1-2a
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I love the Olympics, from the grandeur of the Olympic torch to the thrill of the most obscure events. The flags, the pomp and circumstance, the medals, and of course, the competition.
Some of my favorite events at the Summer Olympics are in track and field. The best athletes in the world compete head to head in various disciplines, and I love everything about it, from pole vault and shot put to sprints and hurdles. But my absolute favorites are the relays.
In track, relays are a team competition where teams of four race to see who can pass a baton around the track the fastest. There are “exchange zones” on the track where the baton must be handed to the next teammate. These handoffs in the exchange zones require more practice than any other skill in the relay. Running your fastest is crucial, but without a good exchange, your team is automatically disqualified.
As Christians, we are part of the greatest exchange in history. When we put our trust in Jesus, we passed on the baton of our sin and brokenness, and Jesus gave us eternal life in return. He bore our sins on the cross so that we could run our race unhindered, and win.
What an exchange that is! We exchanged hopelessness for hope. We exchanged darkness for light. We exchanged lies for truth. We exchanged death for life.
We are not running this race alone; we have a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, we can run with perseverance, knowing that through Him, we have exchanged our burdens for His promises and our struggles for His strength. What a great exchange indeed!
— Melissa Motes
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