In 1992, British athlete Derek Redmond was running the 400-meter in the Barcelona Olympics. Suddenly he pulled his hamstring, causing excruciating pain. He said it felt like somebody shoving a hot knife into the back of his knee and twisting it. He fell, but got up and began hobbling toward the finish line. His father jumped from the stands, raced to his side to say, “Derek, You don’t need to do this.” He replied, “Dad, I want to finish.” So father and son finished together. The writer of Hebrews urged followers of Christ to persist in their faith. He wrote in Hebrews 12:1, “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Today, God’s people encounter many distractions and temptations that could cause them to become cool in their relationship with God. By meditating and gazing at our Lord who kept going despite severe obstacles, we can gain inspiration to remain faithful.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
