Thought for the Week

The 30th Olympic Games of the modern era have begun. The Opening Ceremony for London 2012 was spectacular and was watched by more than a billion people around the world. Athletes from more than 200 countries entered the new Olympic Stadium. They have been training for many years and are now hoping to win a medal.

One of the best kept secrets of London 2012 was who would be chosen to light the Olympic Cauldron. The Cauldron is lit at the Opening Ceremony and stays alight until it is extinguished on the final day. For 70 days the Olympic Torch has been carried around the British Isles. Normally a great champion from the host country is chosen to light the Cauldron in recognition of their past success. At London 2012 it was done differently. Steve Redgrave, the great British rower who won 5 Olympic gold medals in successive Games from 1984 to 2000, carried the Olympic Torch into the Stadium. Steve then handed it to 7 teenage athletes, representing the future of British athletics, who lit the copper petals which converged to form the spectacular Olympic Cauldron for London 2012.

When athletes competed in the ancient Greek Games they could see a former great champion sitting at the end of the course watching the race. These great champions from the past were there to inspire the competitors to run their best and to do well. The early Christians were encouraged to think of the Christian life as being like an athletic race in one of those great Games and to see their Saviour, Jesus, as the one who is there to encourage and inspire them.

In the first century many Christians experienced persecution for their faith. Some were executed by Roman Emperors, like Nero. In Hebrews, Chapter12, the writer says, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Each of us has a race marked out for us. Life is often very hard and we may become weary and lose heart. How wonderful it is to know that Jesus, the risen Son of God, is able and willing to help us.

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