May 23
“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. And 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. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified,” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Christians must practice self-discipline. We should not give in and yield to the desires of our sinful flesh, to the ways of the world, and to the temptations of the devil. To emphasize this to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle wrote about the Greek athletic games with which they were familiar. The Isthmian games were celebrated every two years in ancient Greece.
The apostle refers to footraces and boxing. All of the runners are competing in the race, but only one receives the prize. In order to compete and succeed, the runners must practice and discipline themselves. Runners must engage in regular and strenuous exercise. The muscles of the body must be in good tone. This also requires giving special attention to one’s diet.
To engage in the athletic sport of boxing, the requirements to succeed were similar to those required for racing. The boxer does not want to beat the air, but desires to make every blow count against his opponent.
In the athletic games, the contestants were striving to obtain a perishable prize. In the Greek games, it was a garland, which had more of a sentimental value than a monetary value. The garland withered away in a short time, and the songs of praise that were sung to the winners were soon silenced.
How does all of this apply to the Christian life? We must discipline ourselves. We must have the will and the determination to say, “No!” to the sinful desires of our old sinful nature. We must struggle against falling in love with the world and the things that are in the world. We must have and use the weapon of the Word to resist the temptations of the devil. We want to be winners! The prize for which we strive is an imperishable crown! We want to be winners of the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven. It is the crown of God’s grace.
With our faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who purchased for us a crown of glory, we are winners! No, we do not win because of our good works. We win because of what Christ did to redeem us. He redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. Our eternal crown of glory is a gift from God. It is summarized so beautifully in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast,” Ephesians 2:8-9. The apostle Peter wrote, “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away,” 1 Peter 5:4. In the Book of Revelation, the evangelist John wrote, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life,” Revelation 2:10, and, “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown,” Revelation 3:11. Continue in the faith!
“Blessed are the sons of God;
They are bo’t with Christ’s own blood,
They are ransomed from the grave,
Life eternal they shall have:
With them numbered may we be,
Here and in eternity!
They are justified by grace,
They enjoy the Savior’s peace,
All their sins are washed away,
They shall stand in God’s great Day:
With them numbered may we be,
Here and in eternity!” Amen.