I saw a news story the other day about a high school cross country meet. The story focused on a girl named Kaylee who was running the last race of her high school career.  She told her dad she was determined to do her personal best that day. She wanted to run faster than she had ever run before. And Kaylee was doing just that.  She wasn’t in first place, but she was doing well, and she was on pace to do her personal best.

As Kaylee came down the final stretch toward the finish line, she noticed that a runner in front of her was struggling. This runner from another school was stumbling along, and in a state of exhaustion, eventually fell to her knees.  Kaylee, who started the race determined to do her best in the last race of her career, stopped running.  She helped the other runner get up, supported her, and together, they made their way to the finish line. Because Kaylee stopped to help, she didn’t finish the race with a time that was her personal best.  But because she stopped to help, Kaylee finished the race in a way that was her personal best.

I was inspired and encouraged by Kaylee’s story.  It reminded me of what Paul says to the church in Philippians 2:3-4

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Paul then goes on to say that we are to have the same attitude and demonstration of sacrificial love for others that Christ has for us.  It is good to have things we want to accomplish, goals we want to achieve, and to push ourselves to do our personal best.  But it is even better to remember that we are truly at our personal best when we demonstrate the same sacrificial love to others that Christ has demonstrated for us.

I pray that this week you will have a very good week.  I pray that you will both experience  and demonstrate the grace and love of God in a multitude of ways.

Until next time, stay strong in the faith,

Pastor Phillip Stephens