Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 7
Saturday


TOO SOON
TO QUIT

READ:
1 Corinthians
__________________________

Lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so
easily ensnares us,
and...run with
endurance the race.
__Hebrews 12:1
__________________________

Chris Couch was only 16 years old when he first qualified to play golf at its highest level on the PGA Tour. He was quickly declared the next golfing prodigy and a surefire success for years to come.

Life, however turned out to be more of a grind. Chris did not enjoy a sprint to success but endured a marathon that would take 16 years and 3 different stints on "mini-tours." Tempted to quit, Couch persevered and finally, at age 32, became a Tour winner for the first time when he captured the New Orleans Open in a thrilling finish. His persistence had paid off, but it had not been easy.

In his book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Bible teacher Eugene Peterson reminds us that the Christian life has much more in common with a marathon than with a 100-meter dash. Peterson says we are called to persevere in "the long run, something that makes life worth living."

With the grace and strength of Christ, we too can "run with endurance" this race of life (Heb. 12:1). And, with our Lord's example to help and encourage us, we can, like the apostle Paul, run to win the prize of "an imperishable crown" (1 Cor. 9:25).

It's always too soon to quit. __Bill Crowder
____________________________________________________________

Run the race with eternity in view.

*************Today's Bible Reading__1 Corinthians 9:24-27*********

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,l est, when I
have preached to others,
I myself shuld become
disqualified.

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

Athlectc imagery would have resonated with the people of Corinth__
they were a sports-loving society. Corinth was host to the Isthmian
Games (so named because Corinth was on the small isthmus that
connected northern and southern Greece). They were games seen as
second only to the ancient Olympics. Corinth needed this reminder,
for in sports we see the reward (v.24), self-disciplinne (v.25), sense of
purpose (v.26), and perseverance (v.27) that are part of the Christian
life as well. WEC