January 1 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We do not drift into another year like pieces of wood on the stream of time. The new year is before us like a race to be run. God calls us to the race and tells us how to run it.

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." If you try running a race in your winter coat, you'll lose it before you start. The coat will hinder your movements. And if you are out of condition, sluggish and fat, your chances are slim at best.

God's athletes may not carry their sinful habits into the race. They must "throw off" the worldly cares that grow on Christians like extra pounds on obese North Americans. When you are called to the kingdom, you cannot run for the prize with your arms full of treasures and your heart divided by desires. You must have a single purpose, and you must train to stay in shape.

The race is very difficult. Some must "run" while they are sick in bed, others are in the race as business people bracing themselves for the after-Christmas slump. A few are persecuted for their faith by public authorities, and many are students who have just begun a new term. But all of us are in the race. And all of us must run "by faith."

The stadium of our lives is surrounded by bleachers filled with spectators. They aren't ordinary spectators. They are all veteran athletes who have run the race. This whole cloud of witnesses tells us to run "by faith." That's the secret of the runner. The whole gallery of Hebrews 11 urges us to keep running and to take all the hurdles "by faith."

The focus of our faith is Jesus. Keep looking at Jesus. As long as the eye of our faith is fixed on Jesus, we will overcome all obstacles and receive the crown at the finish.

Take courage and run.

Reflections

Think about what drags you down in the race, and then ask God to help you throw it off.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.