Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IN THE RACE IS YOU”

Paul said, “I bring my body into subjection.” Why? Because your number one enemy in running and finishing this race well is you, yourself! Who is the biggest obstacle that keeps you from losing weight, from reading the Word, from doing the godly things you know you should do? You are! Who makes the choice to bail out on church, to not follow Him, to involve yourself in things that aren’t conducive to being a Christian? You do!

Stop making excuses and stop blaming circumstances. It’s time to hit the spiritual gym! We need to stop running around the track in reverse and stop fighting the air. You must buckle down and purpose in your heart to FINISH THE RACE WELL. Paul himself was terrified that he would be a failure at what he preached to others. He said, “I gotta keep myself in check, less I become what I have preached to others not to become.”

Church, the world is watching you. They’ve heard all their lives what a Christian is supposed to be. When a self-professing Christian is bar hopping, using profanity, lying, stealing, and can’t be found on Sundays, it makes a mockery of the Gospel. If a 400-pound man claimed to be an Olympic sprinter, we wouldn’t take him seriously. If the product on the front of the can (the label “Christian”) is contrary to the contents inside (the life you live), the world sees you as an impostor. The Incorruptible Crown is reserved for those who run the race well, run it faithfully, and finish strong. Get your body and your choices in subjection to Christ!

1 Corinthians 9:27– “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”