KEEPING YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE (1 OF 3)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
This content is part of a series.
Keeping Your Eyes On The Prize (1 of 3)
Series: Personal Best Invitational
Jeff Strite
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
OPEN: Back in the 1960's there was a young High School boy named John Baker who loved to run. In fact he loved running so much that his dream was to be on the High School track team. The only problem: the coach wasn't interested. John was too short and too slight to be a runner. But John's friend was built like a runner. In fact John's friend was such a promising runner that the track coach heavily recruited him for the team. But THAT boy wasn't interested. That was when John came up with his way to join the team: he promised the coach that if he'd let him run, he could convince his friend to join the team as well.
So John got on the team... and the team's first race was a 1.7 mile cross country run through the hills of Albuquerque. Of course there were a number of other schools there for the meet, and so was the reigning state champion runner - Lloyd Goff. All eyes were on Goff as it seemed a foregone conclusion that Goff would win as he always had. So Lloyd led the pack as they disappeared over the hills. For the next few minutes, the spectators waited and watched ... and then, at last, they saw a lone figure running toward them.
They assumed it was Lloyd Goff. But it wasn't. Guess who it was? That's right, it was John Baker who led the pack. He not only won the meet that day, but he set a new meet record.
When asked how he was able to win, John said he asked himself a simple question ''Am I doing my best?'' Then he fixed his eyes on the runner ahead of him until he passed him, and then the next and the next until there was no one left.
Now HOW did John win that race? He won it by being focused. He focused on one runner at a time. He knew what he wanted to accomplish and he stayed on target until he crossed the finish line. (Dan Green ''Finish Strong'')
In our text today Paul declared ''I do not run aimlessly'' (I Corinthians 9:26). ...
Series: Personal Best Invitational
Jeff Strite
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
OPEN: Back in the 1960's there was a young High School boy named John Baker who loved to run. In fact he loved running so much that his dream was to be on the High School track team. The only problem: the coach wasn't interested. John was too short and too slight to be a runner. But John's friend was built like a runner. In fact John's friend was such a promising runner that the track coach heavily recruited him for the team. But THAT boy wasn't interested. That was when John came up with his way to join the team: he promised the coach that if he'd let him run, he could convince his friend to join the team as well.
So John got on the team... and the team's first race was a 1.7 mile cross country run through the hills of Albuquerque. Of course there were a number of other schools there for the meet, and so was the reigning state champion runner - Lloyd Goff. All eyes were on Goff as it seemed a foregone conclusion that Goff would win as he always had. So Lloyd led the pack as they disappeared over the hills. For the next few minutes, the spectators waited and watched ... and then, at last, they saw a lone figure running toward them.
They assumed it was Lloyd Goff. But it wasn't. Guess who it was? That's right, it was John Baker who led the pack. He not only won the meet that day, but he set a new meet record.
When asked how he was able to win, John said he asked himself a simple question ''Am I doing my best?'' Then he fixed his eyes on the runner ahead of him until he passed him, and then the next and the next until there was no one left.
Now HOW did John win that race? He won it by being focused. He focused on one runner at a time. He knew what he wanted to accomplish and he stayed on target until he crossed the finish line. (Dan Green ''Finish Strong'')
In our text today Paul declared ''I do not run aimlessly'' (I Corinthians 9:26). ...
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