Running

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

RUNNING

1 Cor 9:24-10:1

24 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. 25 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. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

NIV

Are we looking for any rewards, any compensation, any praise or some form of a prize, a crown during our earthly life? Do we live as if the Kingdom of God exists to benefit us in some way while we stole aimlessly through life, with no real direction, or purpose? Do we in fact stroll through life with no real purpose other than to live our life to satisfy the needs we seem to have? Do we even work in the field of our dreams or somehow end up employed, not really knowing how he ever got there? What purpose do we serve in the grand scheme of things? Do we even know what our purpose is, other than our daily life? It appears we are to be runners in a race, which of course has a well laid out course, specifically designed to bring us to the finish line. We cannot wander around the course as if we are not interested in the arriving at the finish line and claiming our prize. We must recognize we have a purpose as runners in this race, and that is to reach the finish line. But in order to win the prize we need to be in strict training, continually developing our running skills, our bodies, our minds, and yes, in this case, and our spirits. We have the most excellent coach for this training and it is up to us to listen and obey His instructions. As we listen carefully to how we should train, we grow in our understanding of our purpose in the race, in running the race. In our training and running of this race, we can give all the credit to our great coach we have not only qualified us to run in the race, but has prepared us to win. We cannot afford to be distracted by the crowds cheering for us, and begin to think we are such a great runner. We must always see our purpose of bringing praise, honor and glory to our trainer, our coach, our Lord and Savior.