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Weekly Devotional

February 2, 2009

God’s Peace be with you all.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25   ²⁴ 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.  ²⁵ 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.

Galatians 2:2  ² I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

Hebrews 12:1-2  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.  ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Last night I did what I always do this time of year….ate way too much food and enjoyed a great football game.  This years Super Bowl was one that will go down in the history books.  It featured two teams so different that many people were predicting the outcome of the game weeks before it was played.  Arizona was considered to be one of the biggest underdogs in Super Bowl history as they earned their first Super Bowl birth ever.  Pittsburg was going for an unprecedented 6^th win.  What a night it was.  No matter what the outcome, history was going to be made.

            One of my favorite moments of last night was when the Steelers intercepted Kurt Warner’s pass with 18 seconds to go in the first half.  The interception was returned 100 yards for a touchdown, making it the biggest play in Super Bowl history.  At the end of the play, Pittsburg Steeler J. Harrison was seen lying on the ground trying to catch his breath.  He had just run probably the hardest and fastest race of his life.  His 1^st quarter run enabled the Steelers to eventually win the game and becoming the winningest team in Super Bowl History.

            As Christians, we are running a race everyday.  However, our prize at the end is not a touchdown or a gold medal.  As Paul wrote in, Hebrews, let us fix our eyes on Jesus.  Let us run the race that results in a prize that will last forever.  Let us not run this race in vain, but instead help each other along the way, so that we might all have the perseverance to cross the finish line.

In our prayers this week: 

Alma, Ann, Marjorie, Joseph, Craig Lanford, Kathy Anderson, Shanna Sprouse and her baby, and the congregation of St. John’s Lutheran

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson