Do you know what they give athletes when they win at the Olympics? They get a medal, right?
Athletes who participate in events at the Olympic Games put in a lot of effort, work, and sacrifice. They train more than eight hours a day every day of the year. That is their job, and they have to win many preliminary events to be able to compete.
In New Testament times, athletes who won a race or competition did not receive a medal, but a wreath made of laurel branches and leaves, worn like a crown. It was a prize, a symbol of victory.
Did you know that you are also participating in a race? Yes, even if you are not an athlete, the Bible says that life is like an obstacle course or race that must be won. The obstacles can be an, a family problem…
Satan makes sure to put obstacles on the path so we will not be happy, as he did with Job, the Bible character. Do you remember him?
Job was faithful and obedient to God, and that’s why Satan wanted to hurt him—to show that if something went wrong, Job would stop being faithful to God.
So he tried to take away everything Job had (family, property, animals, and even health) so that he would blame God for everything bad that happened to him.
Do you think Satan got Job to stop being faithful to God? No way!
Job continued to trust Cod and God gave him twice as much as he had before. Job was victorious in all the trials, and God rewarded him.
In the same way, if you remain faithful to Him, you will overcome all trials and Cod will reward you as He did with Job. He will give you a crown of victory in the New Earth. Can you imagine what that will be like?
Draw it in your Prayer Journal and ask Jesus for help to be a champion in the race of life.