(1) Strict training
I Corinthians 9:24-27
It all looks so easy… but a sporting career demands enormous commitment and dedication over many years. Athletes don’t just spend many hours exercising and training, but they also have to be careful about their diet and general health. And how easy it is for a last-minute injury or just an ‘off’ day to ruin all their hopes! If they are willing to sacrifice so much for the possibility of a few brief moments of glory, how much more motivated should we be in our Christian lives? “Run in such a way as to get the prize!” (verse 24)
The problem is, of course, that our natural selves are self-indulgent; nobody finds it easy to read the Bible regularly, or to pray, and for many of us attending a church is a struggle. It takes some effort! But if we want to make real progress in the Christian life, we need to be self-disciplined and make that effort. Like the top athletes, some of us may even have to give up perfectly legitimate activities in order to have time to serve Christ more effectively.
The exclusion of most of the Russian team is a salutary reminder that an athlete’s career can be ruined by the use of illicit drugs. In the same way, a Christian’s ministry or witness can be ruined by sin. Holiness is not optional! Paul was under no illusions; he knew that not even he was above temptation (verse 27). So we all need to watch ourselves; our lives should be kept as ‘clean’ as possible, so that we do not bring our ‘team’ (the Church) into disrepute.
I Corinthians 9:24-27
It all looks so easy… but a sporting career demands enormous commitment and dedication over many years. Athletes don’t just spend many hours exercising and training, but they also have to be careful about their diet and general health. And how easy it is for a last-minute injury or just an ‘off’ day to ruin all their hopes! If they are willing to sacrifice so much for the possibility of a few brief moments of glory, how much more motivated should we be in our Christian lives? “Run in such a way as to get the prize!” (verse 24)
The problem is, of course, that our natural selves are self-indulgent; nobody finds it easy to read the Bible regularly, or to pray, and for many of us attending a church is a struggle. It takes some effort! But if we want to make real progress in the Christian life, we need to be self-disciplined and make that effort. Like the top athletes, some of us may even have to give up perfectly legitimate activities in order to have time to serve Christ more effectively.
The exclusion of most of the Russian team is a salutary reminder that an athlete’s career can be ruined by the use of illicit drugs. In the same way, a Christian’s ministry or witness can be ruined by sin. Holiness is not optional! Paul was under no illusions; he knew that not even he was above temptation (verse 27). So we all need to watch ourselves; our lives should be kept as ‘clean’ as possible, so that we do not bring our ‘team’ (the Church) into disrepute.