12/04/2008

I Corinthians 9:24-27 Amplified Bible
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.
25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.
27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].


Paul compares Christian living to the Isthmian games. These games were a big athletic event similar to the Olympic Games. He probably compared the two because many of the people of Corinth were either in the games or they were extremely interested in the games. To be a good athlete, you have to be in training, exercise and basically be in good shape. I find it interesting that these games were not only athletic events but also musical competitions. Many of the people in those times loved their music as well as the games. Ahhh praise and worship...sounds good to me! You also have to be in training if you are in a musical competition too. They would need extensive training to participate in some of these games. Excavations have uncovered shields and helmets and also relics that suggested there would have been boatmen. The wreath of pine and later a wild celery wreath would be given to the winner. By the time the winner received this wreath, it was mostly withered. But Paul says our crown is unperishable - it won't ever wither. When they prepared for these games, they had to be on special diets. We have to be on a diet too - ingesting the Word! The word ingesting means to take in and absorb as food. The Word - that's our special diet. Paul tells us there is danger when we yield to fleshly desires. We need to stay away from sin and build up our spirit. Paul did not want anything to come down on the Gospel or that his ministry would be blamed and therefore the Gospel would be rejected. Since he had called others to the Gospel, he wanted to be sure that he was right spiritually. Paul knew if he was not careful, he could also fall short of the mark. He says he is giving it his all just like if he was participating in the games. He didn't want to tell everyone else about it and then miss out on it himself. So we should prepare ourselves for this Christian race and strive to win the unperishable crown. Take Paul's example and run with it!