Getcha head in the game (or race)

What are we truly called to do as followers of Christ?

In this episode of Running Our Race, we dive into the mission Jesus has entrusted to every believer: making disciples and sharing the gospel. Inspired by a conversation with a friend and a moment of reflection while driving, we ask an important question: We're constantly building and expanding the world around us, but how often are we investing in God's Kingdom?

Through Matthew 28:19–20, Mark 16:15, Romans 10:14, 1 Peter 3:15–17, and 2 Timothy 4, we explore what it means to live with purpose, be ready to share the hope we have in Christ, and keep our focus on the race set before us. Evangelism isn't just for pastors or missionaries, it's a calling for every believer.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7

As we run our race, may we keep our head in the game, our eyes on Christ, and our hearts committed to the mission He has called us to fulfill.

Transcript

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Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of Running Our Race. Today's episode is titled Head in the Game. Today's episode uh was inspired by a few things. I'm gonna start out with a question that I wrote here. Um, and it's what were we called to do? Start of running our race, right, knowing what our objective is, right? Uh I think I had mentioned this in the last episode, and I was talking about how if we're running a hundred meter, we need to work obviously on speed, right? Getting there as quickly as possible. Whereas with a marathon, more of the marathon style, which is really what our race is about, is about pacing ourselves. So like timing was very important, pace was very important, and I had discussed that in the last two episodes. I was discussing with a friend, and the topic of evangelizing came up. They told me a story, and I remember telling them, um, I think to a certain extent we're all called to do that. While I was driving the other uh, I think it was yesterday, um, I was driving, and in that moment, I was thinking about how the city that I'm in, uh, I keep seeing construction everywhere. We keep expanding and we're building, go visit another city, and there's always construction everywhere. Ask myself, you know, like, but how many of us are doing that spiritually? Like, what are we doing spiritually to build people up or bring more people to Christianity? Started thinking about uh one of these very famous verses that I've heard probably a thousand times, um, and it's Matthew 28, 19 to 20. And it says, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. A lot of uh the gospels, normally when it says it in one, it says it in another. And so I found it as well in Mark uh 16 15, and it says, And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. After reflecting on those two verses, I I started thinking about a lot of things kind of kick us down in our race, but I came across 1 Peter 3 15 to 17, and it says, But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with the gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good if that should be God's will than for doing evil. Just with that ending, honestly, um, that would be verse 17. I remember kind of pondering on it, and I was like, man, it's better to suffer for doing good if that is God's will, than for doing evil. I know there's a lot of verses that discuss, you know, like, um, our our reward will be in heaven, you know, our riches will be in heaven, you know, what good is it to ha be rich here, but you lose your soul? And they all kind of tie in together with this verse and kind of like that explanation, like here like the earth will pass away, but in heaven we're gonna have something better. This verse to me was just encouraging because um it was a reminder of what the objective is, and so it was like a reminder of getting my head in the game, and so this is really one of those key verses in this episode. It also says to to always be prepared, like we always have to be prepared to speak on God and speak on how good He is to us. Maybe we're going through a trial, but you know, we still see God in the midst of that trial. This next verse ties into uh always being prepared, and it's 2 Timothy 4 2. This is preach the word, be ready in season in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching. So that ties into two really two aspects of it, which is the go and preach to everyone. But uh with the last verse I had mentioned in 1 Peter, this is talking about being ready in season and out of season. To me, that speaks about like I know that there's sports that they're in season and they're out of season, right? When we think about people being prepared beforehand, right? Before being sent out on say missions or or to be evangelizing to do stuff, they have to prepare in advance before they're be they before they can be sent out. So it doesn't matter if um it's not currently what you're doing, you should prepare for it. So with uh 2 Timothy 4 2, I remembered that I had previously quoted uh 4.7 as well, which is just a few verses down, and I just wanted to remind y'all of that one real quick, and it's I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I've been hearing this a lot in the last few preachings I've been hearing uh just today, but also yesterday, and it's talking about the importance of faith in these last days. This last verse that I have for y'all that I want to add off on as believers, it's just as important for us to keep our faith, but when we think about non-believers, what are they gonna put their faith in? And that's kind of a question that it asks here in this verse, and it's Romans 10 14. It says, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him who they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? So this is just an encouragement. If you are Christian and you've been studying the word, and maybe at some point you have seen someone across the street or seen someone in your school, and you feel it in you, like I need to go tell this person about Christ, I need to tell them about something that happened to me, but then God switched that situation around. Have faith that God is gonna use you. Really, I just want to encourage y'all to go out, don't be afraid to speak on God and how He's working in your life. Don't uh lose your faith. Um keep reading the Bible, keep studying yourself, you know, the Bible, and understanding that it's better to suffer for doing good if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. That's just my reminder to y'all. Uh, obviously, there's a lot of reminders here uh for me as well. Part. I hope y'all take y'all's part. That this was a blessing to y'all, and I'll catch y'all on the next episode. Thank you for watching and listening.