Verse of the Day 6/14

Verse of the Day 6/14

1 Corinthians 9:24-25  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verses are probably familiar to most  of  us.  We've heard Paul's athletic metaphors before comparing life to a race or a battle.  As a race it is a marathon and to run in one of those and if there is any hope of winning one of those it will  involve training and discipline in your life.

So it is in our lives as a Christian.  We've recently been considering verses that contained the words "all things", mostly about how God created, is in charge of , and provides all things in our lives.  Today's verses show our responsibility in all things, to exercise self control, to keep our focus on the prize, to live in a way that we may obtain it.

Whether it be a marathon race or planning to lose weight, setting goals are important.  If you are to run a marathon you want to put aside any extra baggage that you may be carrying, you wouldn't run a marathon with a backpack, let alone a trailer full of "stuff" to run the race.  If you are on a diet and plan on losing weight you need to exhibit self control in what you eat.  Self control involves watching what goes in and what comes out and even what we allow to come into and through our lives.  Everything has  a purpose, we are not to be  going through  this world, this life  aimlessly.  There is a plan there is a path, there is a race laid out for us and we find it in God's Word, we follow it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to live the  life, to run  the race to win the prize,the upward call of Christ.

One last thought, make sure that you are running in the right race.  If you've found yourself in the "rat race" a race that no one can win, drop out and join the race with the eternal prize, the crown at the end of it, the crown of eternal life.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Corinthians 9:19-25The Message (MSG)

^19-23 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

^24-25 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.