- Welcome to the Superbook Show.

- Today we are going to talkabout running the good race.

- Oh, we're going to talk about running?

Just talk?

- Uh, yeah.

Why?

- I wore my track shoes!

(comical music)

(air whooshing)

(feet tapping)

- Throughout the NewTestament, Paul used the idea

of running in his letters,like in First Corinthians.

Don't you realize thateveryone runs the race,

but only one person gets the prize?

So, run to win.

- I'm getting a vibe thathe doesn't literally mean

running a race.

- Good vibe.

He's using it as a metaphor

for how to live life spiritually.

- And just how does runningapply to a spiritual life?

- Glad you brought that up.

I asked my P.E. teacher whatadvice he gave to his track

team so that we could comparethat to what makes a good

follower of Jesus.

- Awesome!

I hope you got him on tape.

- He was too shy andwouldn't let me record him.

So, I had his son tellus the coach's advice.

Here's the first one.

- Be consistent with your training.

- Be consistent with your training.

So, the runner should make sure to train

on a regular basis.

- Yeah, if you onlytrain when you feel like

it or every now and then,

well that doesn't work for any sport.

- And in faith?

- Think about it, how doyou train up your faith?

- Oh boy.

Reading the bible,praying, going to church.

- Right.

Add in putting your faithinto practice like forgiving

others, being generous, loving others.

If you only do thosethings when you feel like,

or every now and then--

- I wouldn't be readyfor the spiritual race!

- Bingo.

The Bible agrees.

Again, this is Paul: Allathletes are disciplined

in their training,

they do it to win a prizethat will fade away,

but we do it for an eternal prize.

- Noice.

- Believe in your training.

- Believe in the training.

Does this guy sound like Yoda to you?

- Not at all does he, hmm.

- (laughs) So what does that mean?

Believe in the training.

- I didn't know when Iheard it at first either,

so I asked.

He said that when racersget to the starting line,

a lot of them start to doubt themselves.

- Sure, I always doubt myself.

- That's a mistake.

If you've trained for the race,

if you've done all you can,

you have to trust that you are ready.

You've done the work.

- And if you've done the work...

- Then you shouldn't wastetime doubting yourself.

If you do that, you've already lost.

- Trust the training!

- As a follower of Jesus,

we shouldn't be doubtingour own abilities.

In fact, we shouldn't berelying on our own strength

to begin with.

- One of my favorite versesis, "But those who trust

"in the Lord will find new strength,

"they will soar highlike wings like eagles,

"they will run and not grow weary,

"they will walk and not faint."

Oh look!

Another running metaphor.

- There you go.

Trust in the Lord, trust in the training.

- Sweet!

Did your coach have anything more to say?

- A lot more.

But that's all we have time for today.

- Bummer.

Can we do one more thing?

- What's that?

Race you to the front door and back.

(tense music)

- His word is forever alive.

(air whooshing)

(feet tapping)

- (panting) Okay, I need moreconsistency in my training.

- Me too.

Hey viewers, don't forgetto like and subscribe.

- And download the Superbook Bible app.

See how many times you canfind running as a metaphor

in the Bible.

- See ya next time.

- Does this guy sound like Yoda to you?

- Not at all does he, mmm.

- (laughing) So, what does that mean?

Believe in the training?

- I didn't know at firstwhen I, I'm sorry you were

laughing a lot, sorry.

(laughing)I just couldn't.