FALSE START

The 2024 Olympics in Paris began on July 26 with a beautiful opening ceremony. Thousands of athletes from across the globe descended in Paris for this event. Athletes trained for several years for an opportunity to showcase their talents in hopes of winning a medal. During one of the track and field events, the players lined up and placed their feet in the starting blocks as they waited for the signal to begin the race. One British athlete moved before the buzzer went off, triggering a false start. The athlete was disqualified and removed from the lineup and could not participate in the race. Devastation took over this young athlete's face. Just like that, years of training for this event disappeared before his eyes.

Unlike the Olympics, where players are not given a second chance in Track and Field, let us thank God for sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. Because of this, we can have several false starts in life, and He does not keep a record when we mess up in life. All of us are given opportunity after opportunity to start over. Every time we falter or fall short, our Heavenly Father encourages us to get up, dust ourselves off, and start over.

Ephesians 2:8-9 [NRSV] says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast." These two verses summarize the main point of the Gospel. We are sinners who need a Savior; and we can only be saved by God's grace. When we put our faith in Jesus who died on the cross to pay for our sins, we are brought into a relationship with our Creator God. The Apostle Paul teaches us that our salvation is not something we earn or deserve; it comes to us because of God's great love for us. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, preached and wrote often about God's amazing grace that leads us into a renewed relationship with God.

The Bible tells us, "All have sinned and fall short of God's glory." [Romans 3:23] We may try our best, but we are not good enough. We need God to make things right between us, to justify us. When we are justified, only then are we made right with God. Our sins are forgiven and God begins the process of lining our lives up to God's original design for us. We are created in God's image, but that image is distorted by sin. However, because of God's grace, through faith, we receive forgiveness. All of this is God's gift to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Faith Step:
No human being could ever begin to believe and walk the path of salvation if it were not for God's grace. Why? So that no one can "boast." No one will be able to tell God, "I did this on my own."

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing grace that has saved us. Thank you for all of the opportunities you grant us each day. We claim no credit but acknowledge that our salvation is entirely your work. Teach us to rest in the assurance that you will finish the good work you began within us. Amen!