Keep Running
Paris is about to become the central focus in the world of sports as it hosts the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games July 26th to August 11th. They tell us there will be 350,000 hours of television broadcasting, millions of spectators, 35 venues, 329 events representing 32 sports, 45,000 volunteers, and 600,000+ meals served at the Athletes Village every day to 10,500 athletes. These athletes come from 206 countries and territories around the world all trying to win one or more of the 329 coveted gold medals.
The United States is expected to win 39 of the available 329 gold medals and projected to win the most overall (123)! Go USA!
In the game of life, God has called His disciples to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1), and to “run in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor. 9:24). This win is all about receiving an “imperishable” wreath from the Lord, not one that is "perishable."
Paul spells out four ways we can all run the most essential R-A-C-E of all:
R-eady yourself. Paul tell us that “those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Cor. 9:24). Preparation matters, so we must strengthen our faith with God’s Word and prayer and exercise our faith as “doers of the Word.”
A-im yourself. Paul says to “run in such a way, as not without aim” (1 Cor. 9:26). Our aim is to run like Christ, so we:
Aim for excellence, knowing that our Lord deserves our best in all that we do.
Aim for effectiveness (v. 26: “I box in such a way, as not beating the air”) by allowing the Spirit to bear fruit in our lives.
Aim for eternity (v. 25: “they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable”) by staying focused supremely on Christ.
C-ontrol yourself. Paul reminds us how important it is to “exercise self-control in all things” (1 Cor. 9:25) and to “discipline my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor. 9:27). In the most vital race of life, there is little room for anything that drags your commitment away from gospel-driven living. We must keep our minds focused (Col. 3:2), utilize our time wisely (Eph. 5:15–16), follow God’s race rules (2 Tim. 2:5), and conquer our sins (1 Cor. 9:27a).
E-levate yourself. Paul warns us “lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). Who wants to lose in humiliation by being disqualified just because you chose to run the race of faith your way instead of God’s? Running God’s way elevates your life and faith as you seek to live for a higher purpose (to glorify God) and a higher experience (enjoying God’s good).
Run to win the race of faith that God has empowered us to run!
Pastor Jeff
“The strongest and healthiest we’ve ever felt is only a hint of what we’ll be in our resurrected bodies on the New Earth. “For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in an resurrection like His (Romans 6:5)”