Day 30 — Finish the Race

“But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

— Acts 20:24 (BSB)

Here we are at the last day of this book, and the last day of the Sons of the King series!

Paul spoke today’s words to a group of church leaders he loved, on a beach near the city of Ephesus. He was heading to Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit had warned him that chains and hard times were waiting for him there. His friends were crying. They knew they might never see him again.

But Paul wasn’t afraid. He had one goal bigger than staying safe or comfortable: “if only I may finish my course.” A course is the track a runner runs on. Paul pictured his whole life as a race that Jesus had marked out for him, and all he wanted was to run it to the finish line, telling people about “the good news of God’s grace” the whole way.

That’s how a son of the King wants to run his life. Not perfect: Paul had made plenty of mistakes. But faithful to the finish.

That’s what these three books have been about.

In Book 1, you learned who you are: a son of the King, with a new name, worth that doesn’t depend on your score, and strength that’s under control. You learned to choose good friends, treat girls with respect, stand firm with courage and follow the brave men of the Bible.

In Book 2, you learned to be faithful: to have integrity when no one’s watching, to keep screens in their place, to fight temptation, to win and lose well and to follow Jesus like Andrew, Thomas, John and Peter.

And in Book 3, you learned about growing up: handling your feelings, understanding your changing body as God’s good design, making wise choices, discovering your calling, learning from older men, passing it on to younger boys and finishing well.

Through it all, one truth stays the same: you are a son of the King. Your body will change. Your feelings will go up and down. Your friends will come and go. Your plans might change. But your Father never changes, and His love for you never fades.

Now it’s your turn to run your course. Run it with Jesus. Run it all the way. And finish well.

A true story: Simeon Nsibambi was a respected man in Uganda, with a good job, fine clothes and a comfortable home. But he was hungry for more of God. One day he met a young English doctor named Joe Church, who felt exactly the same hunger. The two men spent a whole weekend together with nothing but a Bible, reading and praying and asking God to fill them with His Spirit. And God met them. Something caught fire in Simeon’s heart that never went out. He gave up his job and walked the roads of Uganda telling everyone about Jesus. Others caught the fire from him, and then others caught it from them, and it spread from village to village and country to country, until hundreds of thousands of lives were changed. It all started with two men seeking God together, and then passing it on. You can read his whole story in Brave for God.

Think about it: Looking back over all three books, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned about being a son of the King?

Try this: Write a letter to your future self, maybe to open when you’re 18. Tell him who he is in God’s eyes, and what kind of man you hope he’ll be.

Dear God, thank You for making me Your son. As I grow up, help me run the course You’ve marked out for me and finish it well. Help me grow in wisdom, courage and love, and follow You my whole life, all the way home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.