1 Corinthians 9 - 1.26.26

Scripture

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1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“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.”

Observation

Paul talks about self-discipline in this passage. Not only does he preach the Gospel, but he keeps watch over his own life, so that he himself would finish the race. I like how he says that he makes his body his slave so that he would not be disqualified from the prize.

Why does Paul go into such extreme imagery about making his body his slave?

The older I’m getting, the more desperate I’m getting for Jesus to help me to finish the race. It’s not about how well we started, but more about how well we finish.

For some reason, the longer we’ve been in the race, the more endurance it takes to finish well. Grief, illness, disillusionment, discouragement, unfavorable circumstances and just plain old feeling tired (weariness) can tempt us to quit, but Paul is encouraging us to continue fighting the good fight and endure until the end. Paul even gave that charge to Timothy (his apprentice) when he said, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” -1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Application

Keep practicing and keep running to win the prize!

Every skill takes practice. Whether it’s a sport, a musical instrument, driving a car or even cooking and baking, we need to practice in order to improve upon that skill. Eventually, pattern recognition and muscle memory kicks in and we start getting better and better at it.

Spiritually, we need to continue to train and discipline our bodies (not just physically, but mentally as well), to run to win the crown. Practicing our faith never ends, no matter how long we have been in this game.

Our time of prayer and fasting is always a great way to have our bodies submit. When it tells us to eat when we want to spend time with God, we choose to spend time with God. When it tells us to scroll on socials instead of reading our Bibles, we read our Bibles. When our feelings tell us to go against God’s Word, we let God’s Word override those feelings. When our feelings tell us it’s too hard to forgive someone, we do what God tells us to do and take the action to forgive.  The more we practice doing the things that God desires, the more our bodies will naturally gravitate towards those desires. The more we read God’s Word, the more His Truth and His Character will fill our minds, instead of the devil’s lies.

Let us not just run this race of faith for fun, but actually run to win!

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who continues to give me the will and self-discipline to do what You want me to do. There are many times in life when I start to get tired and weary. Thank You for reminding me to keep going and not to quit. Help me to finish the race and this journey of faith well. Discipline my mind and body to run to win. I want to be like Paul at the end when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬) Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi