Being a Runner (part 2)

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 ESV

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

The book of 1 Corinthians is so fascinating to me because this is actually one of Paul’s handwritten letters to the people he cared about and wanted to share the truth about Jesus’ life and how to honor Him. Paul is comparing himself to the racers in the Isthmian games. The participants in the Isthmian games were on strict diets, and they were constantly practicing and exercising in preparation for the games. The athletes had to be disciplined in order to be successful and that meant sacrificing and controlling themselves in the form or what they ate and did in their spare time. Paul is sharing with the Corinthians that yielding to fleshly desires, pampering the body, and giving in to its lusts is dangerous and detrimental to running the race.

Reflection

-How does Hebrews 12: 1-2 relate to the passage in 1 Corinthians?
-What does the end of 1 Corinthians 9: 25 tell us about what prize we should be racing for?
-How have you been running the race as Paul has called you to do? How do you think Paul was able to discipline himself and keep his body in control?

Take the Next Step
We can learn from the humility and caution Paul displays. Challenge yourself to watch against the dangers which surround us while in the body. Start small and find friends you can talk to and trust. Rely on the Lord for strength when life’s race seems unending. It is not necessarily who begins but who completes the Christian life that counts. The Christian life is a life of discipline. Stretch yourself to realize, like Paul, that he must serve the Lord with rigor and win the battle against sin. If he fails in this, he may be excluded from the reward. When we fall down, the Lord is here to pick us up and help us finish the race. Don’t give up!