Run In
That Will Get You The
Prize
I am free. I don't
belong to anyone. But I make myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many
as I can to Christ.
To the Jews I became
like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one
who was under the law, even though I myself am not under the law. That was to
win those under the law. To those who don't have the law I became like one who
doesn't have the law. I am not free from God's law. I am under Christ's law.
Now I can win those who don't have the law. To those who are weak I became
weak. That was to win the weak.
I have become all
things to all people so that in all possible ways I might save some. I do all
of that because of the good news. And I want to share in its blessings.
In a race all the
runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don't you? So run in a
way that will get you the prize. All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we
do it to get a crown that will last forever.
So I do not run like
someone who doesn't run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who
hits nothing but air. No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then
after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules and fail to
win the prize.
1
Corinthians 9:19-27
The apostle Paul used
running a race as a picture of the Christian life. We are supposed to run, as
if to win the prize. What we know in our very real lives is simple. We are
challenged to do all we can, and when we have done everything we can, using the
tools God has gifted us with, we can then turn to Him and know that we have
gone as far as we can, and that He will provide the ultimate victory.
Like Paul, run your
earthly race to win – and to please your King.
The
Christian’s race is not a sprint – it’s a marathon.
Our Daily Bread –