Being Fully Committed to Christ

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Not to many of us could go out tomorrow and run a marathon. We could try, but despite all of our best efforts, most of us just wouldn’t finish. Here in 1 Corinthians, Paul compares commitment to Christ to this idea of a race. He says ‘everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” Notice it doesn’t say everyone tries real hard. An event such as this requires much more. Eating right, exercising, committing to a running schedule, and budgeting your are some steps in marathon training and living a life for Christ requires steps to this commitment just the same.

Reflection

1. What is the prize Paul is talking about?
2. Does Paul portray living a Christian life, and winning this prize as easy?
3. To be fully committed to Christ in your life, what are some of the training activities you need to commit to so you can run this race and receive the prize?

Take the Next Step

A crown that will last forever, the prize, Jesus died so we can have this. But as Paul makes clear, we need to take the next steps in our lives so we can run in this race. We need to grow in our relationship with God, and in our spiritual life so we can truly reflect Jesus’ love to all the world!