1 Corinthians 9:24-27
When I think about the activity of running, I instantly think of the word torture. Nothing against anyone who runs, but I don’t know how you do it! The amount of training that goes into running 5k or even 3k is intense. The pain your body goes through as you train your feet and your endurance. However, I find it fascinating that Paul uses the example of running in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He begins by asking the question, "Don’t you know that in a race only one gets a prize? I think for all of us we understand that there is only one winner, Paul goes on to tell us to run as if we want the prize. Now if you don't know today's scripture Paul is not just telling us to go out and run a 5k, he is talking about our obligation to our Christian life. Paul is calling us to train ourselves for a long race, a race that needs preparation. We need to be able to handle the persecution of the world and be able to get back up when it pushes us down. Paul tells us to run the race not for earthly prizes but for heavenly prizes. It is so easy for us to get caught up in earthly achievements, rather than focusing on giving God the glory. I encourage you to continue to run hard!
Matthew 28:19-20 is the Great Commission, calling all Christians to be a part of seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ go into all nations (people groups.) If we are living out our faith for our glory, we are going to have a very limited impact for the spread of the Gospel. Let’s take today’s scripture as a reminder that it's not about us but all about our heavenly father!
When I think about the activity of running, I instantly think of the word torture. Nothing against anyone who runs, but I don’t know how you do it! The amount of training that goes into running 5k or even 3k is intense. The pain your body goes through as you train your feet and your endurance. However, I find it fascinating that Paul uses the example of running in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He begins by asking the question, "Don’t you know that in a race only one gets a prize? I think for all of us we understand that there is only one winner, Paul goes on to tell us to run as if we want the prize. Now if you don't know today's scripture Paul is not just telling us to go out and run a 5k, he is talking about our obligation to our Christian life. Paul is calling us to train ourselves for a long race, a race that needs preparation. We need to be able to handle the persecution of the world and be able to get back up when it pushes us down. Paul tells us to run the race not for earthly prizes but for heavenly prizes. It is so easy for us to get caught up in earthly achievements, rather than focusing on giving God the glory. I encourage you to continue to run hard!
Matthew 28:19-20 is the Great Commission, calling all Christians to be a part of seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ go into all nations (people groups.) If we are living out our faith for our glory, we are going to have a very limited impact for the spread of the Gospel. Let’s take today’s scripture as a reminder that it's not about us but all about our heavenly father!