Run the race at a steady pace

 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 not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 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.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Followers of Jesus care called to center their lives on Christ which requires self-control and discipline. This is not vain religion but actually a pathway to true joy in Christ, the ability to love one another in community and cross cultural lines with the gospel. Our natural self will run aimlessly, Paul invites us to instead run with purpose to receive the prize. The Christian life is a race, but it isn’t a sprint. It’s a long-distance run. There will be times when we collapse and fall. And all we can do is get up again and keep running until we cross the finish line. Let us recognize that in order to gain what we want, it’s going to require a measure of discipline. In fact, perhaps the reason we don’t have what we want yet is due to a lack of self-control and this is what Paul is talking about in this passage, self-control means that we give up something that we want in order to gain something that we want even more. Our life as a Christian is like an Olympic athlete training to win a medal. Whereas the prize for the athlete is a medal, our prizes are at least two-fold. One prize is the abundant life that we are able to live because we are walking day to day with Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The more disciplined we are at incorporating spiritual exercises into our lives on a daily basis, the more rewarding and fulfilling our life can be. The more we live according to the guidebook that God gives us, the Bible, the sweeter our life can be. God has this prize for us on this side of heaven. The other prize that God makes available for us is the crown of eternal life that we’ll spend with Jesus after we leave this earth.  It becomes available to us when we accept Jesus in our heart as our Savior. Unlike the tarnish that will probably occur with the metal of the Olympic medals, our crown of everlasting life and our joy will continue forever. We do not run the race set before us to win our salvation or get to heaven, for that is a free gift of grace. We participate in the Christian race to win a promised reward and gain the approval of our Father in heaven.We are not to live our Christian life in a half-hearted manner, but rather we are to give it our all. We should run the race with single-minded resoluteness of purpose, determined to do our very best to the glory of God. We are to run so that we may obtain the prize. We are to be faithful to the point of death, and stand fast in the Lord and in the power of His might. We are to be disciplined in our lives, exercise self-control, and consider the needs of others before our own. We are to endure patiently through our trials, rejoicing in the Lord always, praying continually, and in everything giving thanks, for this is the will of God for all who are running the Christian race. It’s easy to feel weighed down and discouraged. When you don’t see any forward movement the finish line seems so far away. But Jesus has already won the victory for us. And when we set our goal on Him and run the race before us, we will receive everything we need to make it to that goal. Let us run to obtain the reward - let us run to win. We can race to the finish with confidence in our Savior Jesus Christ!!!

Father thank You for this day and the strength to run the race of life well. Lord let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord we pray that we will run the race that is set before us, to Your praise and glory. Lord may we conduct our Christian life in the power of Your Holy Spirit. Lord may we exercise self-control and consider the needs of others before our own. Lord may we endure patiently in the trials of life. Lord, we want to run the race to win, to Your honour and glory. Lord use my friend to be the light of Your love to all today. Daddy we love you amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!