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Topic: Temptation, Perseverance

The 13.1 mile Mini Marathon winds through Indianapolis each May, and you see an incredible variety of people along the way. Many of them seem to be there out of curiosity , "Honey, let's walk over and see what kind of weirdos can't find anything better to do than run for two hours."

Others are clearly there to support a friend, and they hold up signs saying "Go John" or "Run Forest Run" or "Don’t throw up now- just 6 miles to go". Some just happen to live along the course, and since they are basically trapped at home for the duration of the race, they bring out a lawn-chair and watch.

Along the way are also thousands of volunteers. Some are there to hand you a cup of cool water. Others are trained in First Aid and rush out onto the course whenever a runner falls or starts to get dehydrated. Some are there to entertain you and help you pass the time (like the polka band and a man in a kilt playing bagpipes).

But not everyone along the way is there to help you. The strangest group I saw on the course this year were three men standing in front of a liquor store. Just as the volunteers stand and hold out cups of cool water, these men were holding out bottles of liquor and cans of beer to the runners. I am sure many of the runners enjoy drinking beer at home. I heard two men talking about how they were going to have some after the race. But not a single runner stopped for a drink that day. In fact, many runners laughed at the sight, because we all knew a simple fact: distance running and beer just don‘t mix very well. And the runners had invested too many hours training to jeopardize their race for a few minutes of distraction.

Along the course of the Christian race are many faces. Some are there to help you. Some are there to hurt you. Still others are offering you things that seem good, but in the end will slow you down or get you off-track.

You’ve invested too much in the Christian race to give it all up for a few minutes of distraction. When Satan calls you off to the side of the course, set your eyes on the goal and just keep running.

Posted From [Christian Love Notes]