Seventh Day Adventist

A Lesson From Athletics
Athletes are known for disciplined training. They do without favorite foods, leisure time, family events, and many other things in order to devote themselves to winning. One decorated Olympic champion swimmer is known for his sacrificial commitment to his daily practice sessions:
“I went five straight years without missing a single day of workout. 365 days a year, every single day I was working.”
A bronze medalist boxer gave up “fast food for 8 years and stayed away from her family to concentrate on her game.”
A world-class soccer player quit eating meat and adopted a plant-based diet because he found that it improved his recovery time after hard games.
Competitors wear only what helps them perform better. Runners put on lightweight track spikes for races. Swimmers use specially designed suits made of nylon and spandex that reduce drag in the water.
Shooters don odd-looking glasses with a blinder on one eye in order to achieve more accurate focus on the target.
In the Bible, the Christian life is compared to an athletic contest. Believers are to note the dedication of athletes as an example in spiritual matters. The author of Hebrews writes, “…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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1,2).
What are the things that hinder us as Christians? Dislike is a problem we all face. We often don’t like people who are different. They may belong to a different political party, or they may not be good managers of their families or their finances.
Before we know it, we have a bad attitude toward them. Intelligence is a gift but it becomes a curse when we use it to discern others’ faults and discuss them with others.
The list of hindrances to successful Christian living is long. But if we go to God and ask His help, He will show us what needs to be laid aside. As we look to Jesus, we find a perfect
Example, inspiration to be better, and power to change.