Scripture for Sunday, July 16: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Psalm 95:1-7
Additional Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 Timothy 4:7-10
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This summer, our family spent time together on an inland lake in northern lower Michigan. My husband, Josh, is preparing for an off-road triathlon. He was so looking forward to open water swimming, mountain biking, and trail running.
The night we arrived at the cottage, we realized we had a serious first-world problem on our hands: Josh's running shoes were sitting by the garage door at home, four hours away. He couldn't run barefoot; nor could he miss a week of training. Josh immediately began problem solving. Did he need new shoes? Should he buy a new pair? Could he borrow some for the week?
Thankfully, Josh was able to borrow a pair of shoes and carried on with training as planned. He often says that registering for a race motivates him to train--he wouldn't run without a goal in mind. The way he plans for and prioritizes training gives me lived insight into Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:
"Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 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."
Paul's athletic metaphor for life in Christ makes sense to us. We applaud discipline for the sake of achievement. Talented or not, an athlete who wants to gain Olympic status or even a place on a college cross-country team adheres to a disciplined diet and regular training.
"See what kind of training athletes in the games go into?" Paul says. "That's the way to go into training in Christ-likeness. We don't insist on our rights; we give them up. We don't do as we please; we exercise self-control for the sake of others on the team."
We give things up in order to train well. And we do it with focus and determination because we have a goal in mind.
Paul's point goes beyond the value of discipline for its own sake. The point of all the training is the goal, the prize: life with Christ--now, and most especially when Christ returns. Any sacrifice we have made in training will have been more than worth it when we live, play, work, and worship in the kingdom lit by his presence.
1) The writer of Hebrews encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus" in the race of life. What aspect of Jesus' faithfulness encourages you most in your own race?
2) How has disciplining your body--through exercise, following a particular diet, fasting--affected your life of faith? Or, how has a physical discipline imposed on you--through a health challenge, through a need to care for a loved one's needs--affected your faith? Ask God to meet you in that disciplined circumstance in just the way you need him to.
