A Great Example Of One Who Succeeded In The Race Of Life

by Pastor Mark
November 03, 2022

 

Running the race of life well

The Apostle Paul was a great teacher and writer. In helping the brethren to understand their faith and life, he employed fitting imagery to inspire them to have a more vibrant faith. In his epistle to the Corinthian church, he used the imagery of a foot race to symbolise the race of life. Paul wrote, “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.” (1 Corinthians 9:24) In a foot race, there would be many runners. But only one would be able to win the race and receive the prize. The runner has to run the race well to win the prize. In our life and ministry, let us be challenged to run the race in such a way that we will be victorious also.

The manner of competing (1 Corinthians 9:25)

  1. A spiritual “runner” sees himself as a competitor…he competes to win the prize.
  2. He is not competing with other fellow servants but rather competing with his best efforts.
  3. A spiritual “competitor” needs to be temperate, to have self-control in everything he does.
  4. He does not lose control of himself, is always restrained and keeps everything in check.

The prize of the race (1 Corinthians 9:25)

  1. Competitors seek to obtain a perishable crown, the laurel leaf crown.
  2. The spiritual competitor seeks an imperishable crown from the Lord.
  3. This is the “prize” that the Lord will be pleased to give us at the end of our race.

Paul’s approach to life and ministry

1. Paul used two imageries to describe his approach

  1. As a runner, he sought not to run with uncertainty (1 Corinthians 9:26).
  2. Paul sought to run his race with the certainty of his faith in the Lord Jesus.
  3. As a fighter, he sought not to fight beating the air but with the aim to overcome (1 Corinthians 9:26)
  4. He was determined to have faith in the Lord to overcome the challenges of life.

2. Paul’s training of the body

  1. Disciplining the body (1 Corinthians 9:27)
    1. Paul sought to punish and buffet his body if needed…to be rigorous with it.
    2. Our body is easily given to sins, such as laziness and idleness.
    3. Let us be challenged to discipline our bodies intensely and rigorously.
  2. Subjecting the body (1 Corinthians 9:27)
    1. Paul sought to make his body subject like a slave…to do what it must.
    2. As a slave obeys the master, so must our bodies obey us.
    3. Let us be challenged to train and discipline our bodies to race well.

3. What Paul sought to avoid (1 Corinthians 9:27)

  1. Paul was conscious of his ministry of preaching the Lord’s Word.
  2. It was a demanding ministry that Paul was committed to.
  3. If he did not discipline himself, he would become disqualified as a preacher.
  4. Paul sought to avoid such inconsistencies in his life and ministry.
  5. Let us be challenged to compete as Paul did in his approach to life and the training of his body.

Let us be challenged and uplifted to follow Paul’s example of competing in a temperate and disciplined manner in the race of life.

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