Training for the Race
Scripture: 1
Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
24 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. 25 Everyone who competes in the games
goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we
do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do
not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the
air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so
that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the
prize.
Devotion:
Running a race is hard work. Back
when I was a freshman in high school, I signed up for the cross country team.
It thought it would be more fun than football and less chance of injury too.
Actually, running the races was pretty fun. The training was hard. Running five
miles or more for five days a week is
really hard work. Even though the rewards were excellent I hated training, but
I did it anyway because I knew that it was the only way to compete in the races.
Paul, in today’s scripture reading
likens training to be a Christian to training to run in the athletic games. I
am afraid in today’s church we may have given up on training to run the race of
life as Christians. What kind of training for the race of life did Paul have in
mind here? How does one train to be a victorious Christian?
There have been many who have
written on race of life as a Christian. They have given their suggestions. One
of my favorite books that seeks to outline the measures a Christian can take to
be ready for the race of life is Celebration of Discipline by
Richard Foster. I reread this book every year or two just to refresh my memory
of what the disciplines are.
Foster lists the disciplines in
three categories: 1. The Inward disciplines. 2. The Outward disciplines, 3. The
Corporate disciplines. Many of the disciplines we do or try to do every day.
For example, prayer, I would wager anyone reading this piece at least attempts
prayer regularly. Other disciplines, such as submission we do not attempt as
often.
While we do not know exactly what
kind of training Paul was speaking of here. We can from the history of the
church glean some clues. Meditation, prayer, fasting, solitude, worship were
certainly on the Apostle’s mind here. Let us seek to be faithful and well
trained Christians. The times we are living in demand no less. Gone are the
days when Christianity was seen as virtuous. We now must be prepared to run the
race of life seeking to make the gospel heard in all the places that we go.
Prayer:
Lord strengthen us to run the race
of life by disciplined training. May we be diligent in the spiritual practices
found in scripture. Show us where our training could use a little more
intensity and diligence. Lead us over the race course you have set for each of
us. Send your Holy Spirit to help us to run the race without tiring. May our
running bring you glory. Amen.
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