Discussion/Devotional Thought of the day..

Normally, I am not much impressed by car racing.  For one, the speeds aren’t much faster than 30 years ago.  Another is going 500 miles around in a circle, or worse, watching someone go round and round for 500 miles… well – it’s about as much fun as watching a dog chase its tail for 3-4 hours straight!

But I was thinking about our lives, all of humanity, and the message of prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah.   It wasn’t cars or puppies they watched going in circles and chasing their tails, it was the people who should have known God, who should have rested in His love, depended upon His mercy and strength, and listened to God.   God warned these prophets, with a warning we too should heed.  People can be stubborn and set in their ways, and they may or may not listen to the message of God’s love.

Things aren’t much different today.  We still see people struggling with hearing God, truly hearing – and seeing that word of God change their lives.  It seems just as we finish one lap, we survive one trauma – whether natural or self-inflicted, and we have to turn back to grace.  It seems endless (much like a car race! ) But a few things – that the Christian life and Nascar have in common.

1.  There is an end to the race.  Really, truly (and unlike Nascar – we get to share the winner circle – together!

2.  The race is basiclly turning the same way – each and every time.  In nascar – its to the left.  in faith, its turning to Christ.

3.  Survival doesn’t go to the one who finishes any one lap faster than everyone else – its a marathon….

4.  Get the right equipment for the race.. (Car, Tires,  and Scripture)

5.  Stay hydrated and watch your intake… ( the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper – see 1 Corinthians 11!)

Ultimately this will fall short – there are accidents in nascar that drop you our of the race.  But not in life, the Holy Spirit can and does repair them, helps them focus on our guide for the journey.  Here is how St Paul said it.

 ^3:13 Brothers, I do not reckon myself as having taken hold of it; I can only say that forgetting all that lies behind me, and straining forward to what lies in front, ¹⁴ I am racing towards the finishing-point to win the prize of God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ So this is the way in which all of us who are mature should be thinking, and if you are still thinking differently in any way, then God has yet to make this matter clear to you. ¹⁶ Meanwhile, let us go forward from the point we have each attained.
Philippians 3:13-16 (NJB)

So do not grow weary, the race is not forever… and the victory in guaranteed – so run this race with great joy.

Knowing the Lord has had mercy on us.  AMEN