God's Coaching #64

God's Coaching #64

Mush! No, not a sloppy bowl of oatmeal or the lima beans your baby brother just smeared on the kitchen wall. Mush is the common command given to sled dogs to get them running. And the best place to hear this term shouted is at the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod is not your everyday race. It’s an extreme adventure in Alaska where competitors race on dogsleds from Anchorage to Nome. The trail is 1,150 miles long, which is like traveling from Washington, DC, to Omaha, Nebraska—except it’s not on smooth, government-maintained highways. It’s on Arctic tundra! Temperatures on the trail often dip below zero. Brrrr!

The Iditarod, which is held each March, has been run every year since 1973 and typically takes between 10 to 17 days. In 2002, Martin Buser set the fastest-finish record by completing the race in eight days, 22 hours, 46 minutes, and two seconds. That’s still more than a week in the freezing-cold wilderness. Brrrr again!

What’s the Score?

Iditarod competitors endure many dangers and great personal discomfort to achieve a remarkable goal. Christians, too, are called to a similar life. In 2 Corinthians 1, the apostle Paul gives a vivid description of what he endured while spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ across the ancient world. At various times during his ministry, Paul was hungry, thirsty, cold, imprisoned, beaten, whipped, stoned, and shipwrecked. He suffered greatly for the sake of Christ.

Even today, many Christians around the world suffer greatly for their faith, especially in places like Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where certain countries outlaw Christianity. If you are a Christian in America, chances are you won’t have to endure what Paul did because of the many religious freedoms we enjoy. But the Bible clearly says that all Christians will suffer in some way for their faith. That’s because we live in a sinful world opposed to God and all who follow him. It may not be physical suffering, but all Christians eventually feel ridiculed or left out because of their faith. The good news is “the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5). How much difficulty are you willing to endure for God?

On the Ball

Commit to praying at least once a week for the missionaries your church supports. They are no strangers to suffering. Also pray for God to give you strength and boldness when you endure difficulties because of your faith.

Coach’s Comment

The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5