OUR DAILY BREAD : RUNNING THE RACE

[cimi]

January 29
Friday


RUNNING
THE RACE

READ:
1 Cor. 9:19-27
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Spiridon Louis isn't well known around the world, but he is in Greece. That's because of what happened in 1896 when the Olympic games were revived in Athens.

During the competition that year, the Greeks did quiet well--winning the most medals of any nation. But the event that became a source of true Greek pride was the first-ever marathon. Seventeen athletes competed in this race of 40 kilometers (24:8 miles), but it was won by Louis--a common laborer. For his efforts, Louis was honored by king and country, and he became a national hero.

The apostle Paul used running a race as a picture of the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, he challenged us not just to run but to run to win, saying, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." Not only did Paul teach this but he lived it out. In his final epistle, he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). Having finished his race, Paul joyfully anticipated receiving the victory crown from the King of heaven.

Like Paul, run your earthly race to win--and to please your King.

__Bill Crowder
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````````````````````````As we run in this race--`````````````````
``````````````````````As our best effort we bring--```````````````
`````````````````````We are spurred on by the fact```````````````
````````````````That we must win for the King. __Branon```````````
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The Christian's race is not a sprint--it's a marathon.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Corinthians 9:19-27********

19 For though I am free
from all men, I have made
myself a servant to all, that
I might win the more; 20 and
to the Jews I became as a
Jew, that I might win Jews;
to those who are under the
law, as under the law, that I
might win those who are
under the law; 21 to those
who are without law, as
without law (not being
without law toward God,
but under law toward
Christ), that I might win
those who are without law;

22 to the weak I became as
weak, that I might win the
weak. I have become all
things to all men, that I
might by all means save
some. 23 Now this I do for
the gospel's sake, that I
may be partaker of it with
you.

24 Do you not know that
those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the
prize? Run in such a way
that you may obtain it.

25 And everyone who
competes for the prize is
temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we
for an imperishable crown.

26 Therefore I run thus: not
with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats
the air. 27 But I discipline
my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I
have preached to others, I
myself should become
disqualified.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

To competing athletes, the crown (v.25) was a symbol of victory
and reward. Paul's imperishable reward was the joy of preaching the
gospel to everyone without charge (v.18) and the converts who had
come to faith because of his preaching (1 Cor. 9:23; Phil. 4:1;
1 Thes. 2:19-20; 1 Tim. 2:6). __SIM KAY TEE