As this year’s Olympics start up, some of the key USA athletes to watch include Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel in swimming, Simon Biles in gymnastics, Kevin Durant in basketball, and Erriyon Knighton in track.
We love the Olympics because all the top athletes from around the world represent their country and compete in 339 events in 33 sports during an intensified short time frame.
The most memorable moments oftentimes take place in a tight competition or a close finish. We enjoy seeing a winner decided in the final seconds or winning by an inch or a millisecond or minimal score.
However, the goal that the very best athletes have is to not only win but by the largest margin possible and dominate their opponents as much as they can.
In other words, elite athletes do the following:
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Set themselves apart.
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Distance themselves from the competition.
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Distinguish themselves.
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Separate themselves.
This is what gold medal winners do and they stand out while the world is watching.
As followers of Jesus, there is a parallel to our own lives that we can be encouraged by today. First off, there is a competition going on for our soul but thankfully when we receive grace and salvation by faith through Jesus, we are set apart.
1 Peter 2:9 (TLB) tells us, “…for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
We still face the competition of evil as Satan and certain people try to take us down. That’s why we have to distance ourselves to avoid getting caught or trapped.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (TLB) implores us to “Keep away from every kind of evil.”
While Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) tells us to “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”
Similar to the Olympians, we want to distinguish ourselves. We’re called to live holy lives that are different and recognized as such.
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT) explains, “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children.
“Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.””
Lastly, in any sport that involves a race, the winner must separate themselves instead of staying back. We, too, don’t want to be held back by being unequally yoked with unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT) says, “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.”
Today, let’s be like gold medal winners and stand out while the world is watching and let us live holy lives that are set apart and distinguished. Let’s distance ourselves and separate ourselves from anything or anyone that is preventing us from thriving on the race that is set before us.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for making me holy because of Jesus. I pray that I will live a holy life as I follow You during the race that is set before me. Please show me the ways I need to separate myself from anything or anyone that is holding me back. I desire to live a distinguished life that is pleasing to You. Thank you for calling me out of darkness into marvelous light. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
- What are your biggest challenges to living a holy life?
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Are there any people in your life that you need to distance yourself from because they are holding you back?
