Thought of the Day – Friday

Each morning this week, Graham Nicholls, our Director, is offering the Thought of the Day on Premier Christian Radio and Premier Praise. You can hear the Thought of the Day around 7.20am on Premier Christian Radio and 7.40am on Premier Praise.

Here is the text of what Graham shared this morning:

This week we have been thinking about how we seek first God’s kingdom – how we put God first by running our race to win the prize.

Eric Liddell was a Christian and the 21st of February marks the 75th anniversary of his death.

Eric was part of the British Olympic Team for the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, but because he believed God commanded Sunday as a rest day, he refused to run in the qualifying heats because they were held on a Sunday. That meant he was forced to withdraw from his best event, the 100 metres dash. He did however, go on to win bronze and gold medals in the 200 and 400 metres events respectively, setting a world record for the 400 metres and causing sensational news headlines. In 1925, at the peak of his athletic career, Liddell chose to join the London Missionary Society and went to serve in Northern China where he stayed for the remainder of his life

He ran for God. He once said “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”

But his goal was not the glory of the medals but the glory of God. He said “It has been a wonderful experience… to bring home a gold medal. But since I have been a young lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize. You see, each one of us is in a greater race than any I have run in Paris, and this race ends when God gives out the medals.”

Liddell wanted to run the race for God.

Who are you running for?

My name is Graham Nicholls and I’m the Director of Affinity, a partnership of gospel churches.