Today's Passage: Acts 18

Are you watching the Vancouver Olympics?  If you are familiar with any Olympian, then you are probably familiar with some of their stories.  Olympic hopefuls  have overcome great odds to achieve their success.   For instance, many have come back from excruciating injuries to achieve Olympic gold.  Others have stayed persistent through many pains of defeat with encouraging words from their coach.  

Paul was an Olympian of sorts.  His passion was serving Jesus Christ and spreading His gospel.  Like the athletes mentioned earlier, Paul too overcame incredible obstacles.  He fought through adversity after adversity, always keeping the goal in mind.  In this particular chapter we see words from Paul's coach, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you..."  In Paul's quest, he too became a coach for others.  Paul would later write to the Philippians, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  He also exhorted the Corinthians, "Run in such a way as to get the prize!"   What is the "gold medal" that we are pursuing in our life?