“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
This summer I had the privilege of watching my sister run a couple of races. The race that will stick in my mind the most was a 15k she ran in Peoria, IL; in addition to the 15k there were also people running a 4 mile race that was billed as the fastest road race in America. The first female to finish ran her first two miles in under nine minutes, running the entire race in under eighteen minutes, the third fastest time in the world. That woman had trained in all kinds of conditions; she knew her goal and was going to do anything to accomplish it. She had her eyes fixed on the prize—a prize that won’t last.
Do I have my eyes so fixed on the end goal that I won’t let any other competition get in the way of me receiving the prize—a prize that is incorruptible? There are so many things competing for my time and affections, things that will win out if my eyes stray off the course that is set before me. Those things will not only cause me not to obtain the prize that is before me, but it will also hinder others who are running with me. When I don’t stay true to what God has called me to do I not only cause myself to stumble I also cause those around me, those whom I have been called to build up and encourage, to stumble.
I have made a habit of getting physical exercise daily. But along with physically training my body I have come to the realization of how important daily spiritually training is. We have an enemy, and He is looking for any chink in our armor to come in and destroy us. I have to daily be putting on the armor of God, seeking out the areas in my life that are keeping me from having an intimate relationship with Him, and live continually in His strength. Without God’s strength and blessing on each day, I would give into the things that are competing against me, the things that are a hindrance to me finishing and winning the race that is set before me.
Everyone is running a race, but the end goal for each individual is different. Some run for personal pleasure; some to be better than others, some run aimlessly; and others with great purpose. Each person’s race has a different finish line, but everyone will come to an end. Then it will be revealed why they were running—for personal gain or for the glory of God.
Rebekah Johnson
8/6/2006
I Corinthians 9:24–27
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
This summer I had the privilege of watching my sister run a couple of races. The race that will stick in my mind the most was a 15k she ran in Peoria, IL; in addition to the 15k there were also people running a 4 mile race that was billed as the fastest road race in America. The first female to finish ran her first two miles in under nine minutes, running the entire race in under eighteen minutes, the third fastest time in the world. That woman had trained in all kinds of conditions; she knew her goal and was going to do anything to accomplish it. She had her eyes fixed on the prize—a prize that won’t last.
Do I have my eyes so fixed on the end goal that I won’t let any other competition get in the way of me receiving the prize—a prize that is incorruptible? There are so many things competing for my time and affections, things that will win out if my eyes stray off the course that is set before me. Those things will not only cause me not to obtain the prize that is before me, but it will also hinder others who are running with me. When I don’t stay true to what God has called me to do I not only cause myself to stumble I also cause those around me, those whom I have been called to build up and encourage, to stumble.
I have made a habit of getting physical exercise daily. But along with physically training my body I have come to the realization of how important daily spiritually training is. We have an enemy, and He is looking for any chink in our armor to come in and destroy us. I have to daily be putting on the armor of God, seeking out the areas in my life that are keeping me from having an intimate relationship with Him, and live continually in His strength. Without God’s strength and blessing on each day, I would give into the things that are competing against me, the things that are a hindrance to me finishing and winning the race that is set before me.
Everyone is running a race, but the end goal for each individual is different. Some run for personal pleasure; some to be better than others, some run aimlessly; and others with great purpose. Each person’s race has a different finish line, but everyone will come to an end. Then it will be revealed why they were running—for personal gain or for the glory of God.