“I have been taken hold of by Christ” (v. 12). Have you paused to reflect on that before? Can you say this with assurance? This is the ground upon which the race is run. The whole course of the Christian life, and the prize we strive to win, exists only because Christ has first taken hold of us. Christian apologist Tim Keller wrote, “The great basis for Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably His heart is set on us.” His work has made our race possible.

Since He has indeed laid hold of you, run with every ounce of effort you can muster. Strive to obtain the prize which He has won for you. Don’t give up until you have reached that finish line and “reached the goal” (v. 12). He will complete what He has begun in you (1:6). Run with confidence knowing that because He has taken hold of you, you will reach the prize. Forget the failures and disappointments, for they do not determine your destiny. This one thing has set your future – that Christ has taken hold of you.

• How does Christ’s holding onto you give you the confidence to run the Christian race?