End of the school year

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My daughter spent the weekend studying for her final exams. She has her tests Wednesday – Friday this week and then she is done for the summer. She is very tired of school and can’t wait to get to summer vacation. We talked about the need to focus and work hard for one more week. We talked about finishing strong and not ruining her hard work from this semester. We talked about the idea of persevering through one more week.

This discussion reminded me of the passage in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27. Paul talks about running the race in such a way as to get the prize. Beth works hard to get good grades – the prize. However, we run the race of life in such a way to get the prize of eternal life. Hebrews chapter 12 talks about getting rid of anything that will weight us down and keep us from competing to our best. Check out yourself. Are there things weighting you down? Are you running the race God has called you to? If not, what is weighing you down? What is entangling you? Cast it aside and fix your eyes on Jesus and finish the race strong.


1 Corinthians 9:24 -27 "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 a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Hebrews 12:1-3 " 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. 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
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