GOING FOR THE PRIZE

GOING FOR THE PRIZE

READ:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Everyone who competes for
the prize...[does] it to obtain
a perishable crown, but we for
an imperishable crown.
-1 Corinthians 9:25

Every March, the Iditarod Trail Race is held in Alaska.  Sled dogs and their drivers, called "mushers," race across a 1,049-mile route from Anchorage to Nome.  The competing teams cover this great distance in anywhere from 8 to 15 days.  In 2011, a record time was set by musher John Baker who covered the entire route in 8 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes, and 39 seconds.  The teamwork between dogs and driver is remarkable, and those who complete are tenacious in their efforts to win.  The first-place winner receives a cash prize and a new pickup truck.  But after so much perseverance in extreme weather conditions, the accolades and prizes may seem insignificant and transient.

The excitement of a race was a familiar concept to the apostle Paul, but he used competition to illustrate something eternal.  He wrote, "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" (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Sometimes we are tempted to place our emphasis on temporal rewards, which perish with the passing of time.  The Scriptures, however, encourage us to focus on something more permanent.  We honor God by seeking spiritual impact that will be rewarded in eternity. - Dennis Fisher

Here we labor, here we pray,
Here we wrestle night and day;
There we lay our burdens down,
There we wear the victor's crown. - Anon.
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Run the race with eternity in view.

INSIGHT
To illustrate his unwavering resolve to preach the gospel to as many people as possible (1 Corinthians 9:18-23), Paul used two athletic metaphors-a runner who keeps his eye on the finish line, and the targeted and precise punches of a boxer.  This pictures the passion, focus, commitment, dedication, and hard work needed to carry out his resolve.  In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul used the same two metaphors.  While athletes compete to win a prize bestowed by men, Paul sought to win an eternal crown awarded by Jesus.  Faithful believers will receive various types of crowns as their reward (2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelations 2:10).

Have a blessed day and weekend.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace