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Devotional Memoir

Keep your eyes on the goal

Tennis. I took lessons once upon a time. During my elementary school years. Early morning lessons to avoid the tropical midday heat of Surabaya. 

I learned how to hold the racket. Practiced forehand and backhand. And remember this advice, “Keep your eyes on the ball.” 

Somehow watching the ball instead of the court and other players and my racket meant I had a chance of hitting it across the net.

Attempting to play tennis.

Distracted

Even with those words ringing in my head, I was distracted. 

By the brightness of the sun. The weight of the racket. Sore muscles. Tropical heat and the thirst that accompanied it. The speed of my opponent’s return. 

And by comparison. To others. 

Dad was a tennis talent who played on Baylor’s team in college. Instead of working with what I had, I just figured I’d never be able to play like him.

Run the race

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear where our focus needs to be on this life journey. As we run the race that lies before us.  

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus,
the source and perfecter of our faith.
For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2

Lay aside 

Lay aside distraction and sin. 

Turn from things that trip us up. That keep our hearts and minds wandering toward peripheral issues. Rabbit trails. Impeding our progress toward the goal.  

Lay aside comparison. With others in this race. Pride clouds and divides. 

Keep your eyes on the goal

Jesus. We keep our eyes on Him. He’s the One we’re running towards. And He is the source. Of faith and courage. To run the race with endurance. 

He’s the One transforming and perfecting us step by step by step. 

What about you?

What distracts you from keeping your eyes on the goal? What do you need to lay aside today in order to run the race with endurance. 

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6 replies on “Keep your eyes on the goal”

Von (unsuccessfully) tried to me to play tennis during our first term. Despite his many injunctions I could not “keep my eye on the ball” and he didn’t appreciate my answering, “Where is it? I can’t. I try to, but I CAN’T!” My prayer in response to “Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus” is often, “Lord, I can’t.” I’ll now add, “Show me what I need to lay aside.”

David preached yesterday on this text yesterday.It’s productive, but painful to think critically about what’s hindering our walk. Thanks.

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