1st—Positioned first in Line is the one with the Best Race Time—Up Front.

2nd—Positioned right behind is the one who has the second Best Time—Drafting off the Shoulder, Sometimes Pushing the first to Run Faster.

3rd—Consistent. Faithful. Always running a similar time, maybe never crossing first, but never losing and NEVER falling back into fourth place.

4th—Who wants to be fourth in line?  Well, that’s easy—the Fifth place runner does, but fourth is a stronghold, a runner who runs just behind third place, keeping the third place runner from falling back away from the first two.

5th—The anchor. The one who either gives the team a winning trophy or a second place trophy.  Fifth is no one’s first….ever, but in racing, fifth is crucial for first to remain first, and a perfect score can never be gained if fifth comes across the finish line sixth.

6th—Often, sixth becomes the needed fifth, often sixth is required because fifth has an injury or just tires or just……….anything can naturally plague fifth, and when that occurs, then sixth must become fifth, and quickly.

7th—LAST.Who wants to be last?  No one.Yet, last can oftentimes create a team to become first (place winners).

The Bible says that the last shall be first and the first will become last. In racing, seventh has probably never crossed the varsity race line first; however, seventh has created an advantage, often keeping the first place team first, and first can never be gained if seventh is required, but suddenly drops to eighth place. 

All placements on the cross country line are crucial. Years ago, when working with runners, each Friday, we would practice our line-ups and our finishes for Saturday’s race day because many times a race had been won and lost within those two places.

HOW TO START & HOW TO FINISH are crucial parts in winning every race.

Young elementary girls learned to understand the concept.

Middle schoolers understood.

High Schoolers intent upon their skills, focused upon their futures, and cognizant of their present were totally aware.

So, how are we (adults) doing with the concept? Do we understand that we need to maintain our place?

***SOME are called To Run, To Lead.

***SOME are needed To Encourage those who Lead.

***SOME Need To BE, Always There, Always Consistent, Never Falling Back and Never Out of the Race.

***SOME must push, must dig deep and forever run behind, gently pushing those three running just ahead, knowing that right behind her runs the anchor. 

***SOME are needed to anchor, to cross the time as the first four cheer her to finish strong, relying upon her to finish strong.

***SOME are there, quietly doing that which is unseen, yet necessary just the same.

***SOME are last, but last makes the whole team complete, and as said earlier, seventh may be required for the team to remain first.

Now, there may be some coaches who may disagree with the reasoning of my thoughts, but all coaches will agree that all teams are created by crucial team members who perform separate tasks, and as they perform, the team succeeds.

The same is true in life.

Every person is crucial.

Every person holds value to Team Humanity.

Every person CANNOT be easily replaced.

Every person needs to be part of the same team, one of “US”—A Crucial Member of Team Jesus.

Every Person.

Team Jesus.

The Bible speaks this truth in many passages, but one such passage is seen in the gospel of John as he recorded the words of Jesus when Jesus foretold His death. Jesus had performed so many signs and wonderful miracles of healing, of restoration; Jesus has spoken only truth, and Jesus had spoken with authority as the One who had come. He spoke to the religious leaders who knew what the prophet Isaiah had prophesied; and Jesus had spoken with that authority, as the One sent by God, as the Son of God sent to the world as a babe born in a manager—The Son of Man & The Son of God.

Yet, still, many could not see or understand the words spoken by Jesus Christ during that day.

Yet, today, many still struggle to see or understand the Word of God spoken through His Word (the Bible).

“If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him, the word I spoke is what will judge him at that last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.(John 12: 47-50).

Some could not see The Truth back then when Jesus walked in the flesh.

Some cannot see today.

So, what are we to do? Us. Teammates.

Believers.  We who already belong to Team Jesus.
We are to maintain.

We are to continue to listen to God.

We are to do as God leads.

We are to obey.

We are to go as God leads us to go.

We are to run the life-race just as God  leads us to run.

We are to speak just as God leads us to speak.

We are to remain on the team, doing our part, fulfilling our role, serving, trusting, testifying, loving, and following…..every day……realizing that God holds us, God anchors us, and God Himself sustains us.

We are on God’s Team.Team Jesus.

Team God.

Team God’s Holy Spirit.

Those who believe, wear the team shirt.

We wear it with honor.

We strive to wear it daily, to every race, and for others to see.

We will wear it again tomorrow.

We will wear it to our final race.

And when we peer into the caskets of our fellow teammates, we will see they (too) wear the same team shirt, as they (too) wear it into eternity.

And if I arrive in heaven before you, I will stand and cheer for you, right beside all those who stood and cheered for me as I turned the corner and raced home.

And as you come across the finish line, we will rejoice as you also cross over that final finish line, standing, and clapping, and cheering for you as we also see you turn that final corner, racing toward the Savior and into the glory found in heaven.

One team.

Team Jesus.

I belong.

Do you?

If not, you can join today.

Pause and Read these passages today as you Admit. & Believe. & Confess. & Receive.

John 3:16.

Romans 5: 1-11

Romans 3: 23-26

Romans 6:20-23

Romans 9: 8-13

Team Jesus. Do not wait. Have Faith.

Today is the day of God’s Salvation