Run to win (3)

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness that cannot wither.” 1 Corinthians 9v24-25 (AMP)

As believers we are running a race to gain a crown that will not wither. How then do we run in such a way as to win this race? The Bible here tells us that the athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. These athletes go into strict training and are disciplined in their training. Indeed to be an athlete is no joke, especially when you are competing at a high level. Students at the elementary, middle, and high school level who are competing know the level of training they go into, and this training usually becomes more intense as you compete at higher levels. Now, these athletes do this to win a crown that would not last, but we to win an incorruptible crown that would last forever. Now our training for the most part is more spiritual than physical, though the level of spiritual training and discipline affects the physical. 1 Timothy 4v8 (KJV) saying “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” What are some things that we exercise ourselves in? The Bible says:

Supplementary Text

“By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins. Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall.” 2 Peter 9v4-10 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, I thank You for Your Word. I thank You for this race we are running. Father, please grant us the grace to run it to the end, and to run to win in Jesus name, amen.