"No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27
After months of training, Gary Robbins set out last weekend to become the first Canadian to ever complete the notorious Barkley Marathons, a 100-mile race so grueling that only 15 people in 30 years have ever finished it. But can you imagine running two-and-a-half days with no sleep through the steep, cold and muddy hills of Tennessee, and being inches from the finish line only to be disqualified? To see all that extreme effort be for naught? You see, even if Robbins hadn't missed the 60-hour deadline by a mere six seconds, "at some point on the fifth and final loop, he got confused in fog on the unmarked course and arrived at the finish line from the wrong direction", he would have still been disqualified. Wow, can you imagine the disappointment?
You know, being disqualified was something the apostle Paul was concerned with as well. But he wasn't afraid of losing his salvation, he was fearful of losing the privilege of telling others about Christ. You see, Paul knew how important it was to stay focused throughout the entire race, especially as he neared the end, to avoid going in the wrong direction or not practicing what he was preaching. And he knew his biggest obstacle in doing this was himself and his fleshly desires-that, to win others to Christ, he would have to bring his whole body into submission.
So may we, like Paul, recognize how easy it would be to be to go off-course and so work diligently to discipline our minds, bodies and spirits daily (through prayer, bible study and worship) to avoid it. Because being disqualified before God would most certainly be the greatest disappointment of our lives.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings you have given us. Thank you especially for your Word that gives us everything we need to train for the battle that we are in to bring people to the foot of the Cross. Help us to be bold in our preaching and incorruptible in our lifestyles that we might not be disqualified at the end. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Incorruptible - Becka Shae
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