The Anchor Church

My Father is stronger than all the other fathers, yet he treats me with gentleness even when he disciplines me.
My Father knows everything about me, yet doesn’t hold anything against me, even when I wrong him.
My Father has a sense of humour. He must laugh at the crazy things I get up to sometimes, yet I don’t ever remember being ridiculed.
My Father has been to many places, and while I haven’t been everywhere he has, he promised to take me on a remarkable journey.
My Father looks after his family. I can’t remember a single promise he has broken.
My Father is incredible, yet some of my friends think he is unbelievable.
My Father loves me.

How do I know? I just know. The Father I refer to is the living God. He is able to comfort, encourage and set you on the right path all the
days of your life.

He is like no other and he desires you to know Him intimately and rest in His unfailing love.

Ephesians 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I  myself should be disqualified.

When Paul wrote these verses to the Corinthian church, he compared life to running a race.  The athletes go through an exhaustive programme for maybe just one tilt at glory, the prize resulting in an earthly crown that will last this life time.

Paul always encouraged the readers to look beyond temporary glory, instead asking them to understand that the exhilaration of competition that would lead to a full eternal victory.

Paul knew that podiums and medals would fade, the wreath that the ancients won would eventually rot and disappear into the dust; not so the everlasting glory that awaits through our faith in Christ.

This life is one of training, overcoming obstacles, ensuring what we say matches what we do.  Even when off track, we can refocus our eyes on Christ, knowing he awaits at the finish line to receive us as good and faithful servants.  Our pre-season training regime lasts an earthly lifetime.  It consists of knowing Christ’s love by adoring him in every facet of our lives and making him known through the integrity of our life style.