"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:25
Yesterday, my friends and I were blessed to be able to run the Millwood Out of Bounds Half Marathon. As we arrived 30 minutes prior to the start of the race. we passed the time chatting with other runners. As we soon learned, many of them like us, were using this race as a training run for an upcoming marathon. And as I listened intently to their banter, I realized that the majority of the runners had started "real" training only recently after having taken a break over the hot summer months. Not that they quit running of course, they just took a break from the strict training required to run the race.
While we can get away with that when it comes to our running and other hobbies, our spiritual fitness requires the strictest of training every day year round. In fact, the apostle Paul was comparing himself to the athletes in the Isthmian games, something like the Olympics we know today and something well known to the Corinthians when he wrote, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." These athletes ate a strict diet, trained relentlessly and made the greatest of sacrifices to obtain "a crown that will not last." May we follow the example of relentless training in our spiritual lives to obtain "a crown that will last forever" by daily training ourselves in the Word and denying ourselves the things that might hinder our doing so.
Are you doing "real" training today or have you found yourself taking a break? Let's get relentless in our pursuit of the crown and victory through Jesus.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the training plan we need to run the race in your Word. May we "train" ourselves in it every day as we relentlessly pursue the crown of victory of eternal life spent with you. Help us to rid ourselves of the things keeping us from the strict training you have called us to. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org
Relentless pursuit - Kim Walker
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