At the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

At the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 the Scotsman Eric Liddell (1902-1945) won two medals, first the bronze over 200 metres; a few days later he was in the final of the 400 metres. It was not his distance, but he won the gold medal in world record time: 47.6 seconds. As a result he became the most famous sportsman of his time in Scotland.

During the following weeks many wanted to see and hear him. At one of these meetings he said at the end of his speech: "Before I sit down, I must tell you something. It was a wonderful experience participating in the Olympic Games and bringing a gold medal back home. But since my childhood I have set my sight on another prize. As you know, each of us has a more important race to run than the one I had in Paris. The race of our life ends when God hands over the medals. I have always wanted to be a missionary and have just learned that I can emigrate to China. From now on I shall devote all my energy to this work."

His listeners, and the whole country, were speechless. Scotland's greatest athlete was giving up running to become a missionary!

Eric Liddell knew that God would judge his life. God's verdict was important to him: he lived for it. For what or for whom do I devote my energy? At the end of his life the apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness" (2 Timothy 4:7.8).

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 8:1-40 · Psalm 82:1-8