God’s Relay Race – July 17, 2024

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Titus 1:5-9

God’s Relay Race

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever watched a relay race?

There are rules. Each team of runners must stay in their lanes. They start and end their turns in a specific part of the track. They can’t interfere with other teams.

Teams get disqualified (kicked out of the race) for breaking those rules. There is one thing the relay runners have to do. It’s the whole point of the race. They have to carry what’s called a baton around the track. It’s a cylinder-shaped piece of metal that fits easily in your hand. As the runners run, they hold it tightly. Then, they pass it to the next runner. Four runners start and stop during a relay race, but the baton travels the whole distance.

Imagine if a runner dropped the baton and kept running. When he gets to the finish line, it won’t matter that he followed the rules. A team that crosses the finish line not holding the baton doesn’t win.

Being a pastor is like a runner running in a relay. God tells pastors to follow rules. They should be good husbands, fathers, and neighbors. They shouldn’t drink too much alcohol or focus on getting money. There’s one thing pastors absolutely have to do. It is the whole point of their lives. They have to hold firmly to the Bible teachings like a runner would hold a baton. So pastors hold God’s Word tightly in their hearts and then carry those teachings to their families, church members, and neighbors. Finally, they pass the Word to the next generation, like passing a baton in a relay.

Wow, that’s a lot! How can anyone carry out all those requirements? We all sin in the way we treat our families and others—pastors, too.

Here, the special work of the church is different than a relay race. The runners in the relay get strength from their bodies—what they eat and how they train. In the work of the church, it’s the baton—the Word we carry that gives us strength. We hold firmly to the Word because it comforts us with the truth that our sins are forgiven. It strengthens us to trust in Jesus. It inspires us to dig deeper into God’s teachings. Empowered by the Word we hold, we run to pass it to our communities and someday to the next generation.

Let’s cheer on our pastors as they race, holding firmly to the treasured baton of God’s Word!

Closing Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank you for using your powerful Word to give us faith in Jesus, our Savior. Give us the strength to hold your perfect message in our hearts and carry that message to those around us. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• In your own words, can you explain the job of your pastor?
• Sharing God’s Word is the work of all believers. What is the most important message you can pass to someone from the Bible? Write or draw it on a piece of paper, roll it into a baton shape, and give it to someone.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How is God’s Word like the baton in a relay race?
• Write a note to your pastor (or someone who teaches you about Jesus). Thank him for sharing God’s Word and tell them you will pray for them.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why do you think God says it’s so important for pastors to live in a way that is right in the eyes of church members and others?
• Think of the relay race. Even if a team follows all the rules, they haven’t completed the purpose of the race if they don’t cross the finish line holding the baton. Now think of the work of a pastor. What if he follows all the guidelines for a pastor’s lifestyle but doesn’t hold firmly to the Word of God?