Light
for the path JAY BRANTLEY | SUNZ Camp Leader
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
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he world we find ourselves in today is built around grabbing our attention and holding it for as long as possible. With the constant bombardment of information, advertisements, and a never-ending stream of catastrophic events, it is easy to get swept up in the noise and completely forget God. One of Paul’s metaphors equates our journey in life as a Christian to the journey of a marathon runner in a race. When we remain focused on God, we are running our marathon without the distractions hindering our journey, but if we get distracted, we run around aimlessly and let the world lead us and shape how we think. The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, have a motto, ‘ad majorem dei gloriam,’ which means ‘for the greater glory of God’. No matter what they do with their day, no matter how large or small their tasks
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are, they act through the framework of doing everything for God’s glory. How different our lives become with God acting as the lens through which we view the world. The very beginnings of our days shift our minds from ‘what do I need to do today?’ into active obedience to God, ‘what do you have planned for me today?’ Even when we are doing the day-to-day chores, we remain attuned to the Holy Spirit, watchful for those small moments to bring God’s light to those who need it. Paul urges God’s people to become this disciplined for God, to truly focus and pursue everything God calls us to be. Whether we are saving lives in the medical field or cleaning the dishes in a café, we all have the opportunity to bring God into our daily lives. We often look for the moment to sprint across the finish line without realising it is the power of one foot after the other that wins the race in the end. As we continue on with our day to day lives, where are we following God intentionally? Where do we need to let go of the distractions and start moving with purpose? What marathons are we already on that could prosper if we were intentional with our actions? And in all the things that we do, whether they are big or small, we must remember to do them for the greater glory of God.
