1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV
My husband is a Detroit Lions fan. Most everybody else that I know belong to the Green Bay Packers club. Personally, the only sport I am interested in is the race that St. Paul is talking about in today's reading. "Run in such a way as to get the prize," he says.
No matter what sport one participates in, one must practice. Those who don't play and only observe practice sitting on the edge of a couch or stadium seat. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself) That would take a lot of self-discipline on my part to sit for that long and watch others play. But, no matter what it is that we desire; we must discipline ourselves to reach for what we desire. That goes, not just for sports, but for all areas of life. Toini Heikkinen, a neighbor and a former music teacher (she has since reached the end of the race.) use to insist that her students practice every day. It was not an option. She expected them to discipline themselves if they truly wanted to play the piano well.
All these things are well and good. But, remember they only satisfy for a time here on earth. If our ultimate goal is living in the presence of God; in His eternal Kingdom, then we might want to discipline ourselves in our journey (race?) for that goal.
In reality, we cannot run the race and win; for life in the Kingdom of God was already won for us on the cross by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. I feel justified in calling it a race only because some days I seem to be in a pretty big hurry to see that Kingdom in all of God's glory.
May God bless your journey...
God's Peace - Pr. J
My husband is a Detroit Lions fan. Most everybody else that I know belong to the Green Bay Packers club. Personally, the only sport I am interested in is the race that St. Paul is talking about in today's reading. "Run in such a way as to get the prize," he says.
No matter what sport one participates in, one must practice. Those who don't play and only observe practice sitting on the edge of a couch or stadium seat. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself) That would take a lot of self-discipline on my part to sit for that long and watch others play. But, no matter what it is that we desire; we must discipline ourselves to reach for what we desire. That goes, not just for sports, but for all areas of life. Toini Heikkinen, a neighbor and a former music teacher (she has since reached the end of the race.) use to insist that her students practice every day. It was not an option. She expected them to discipline themselves if they truly wanted to play the piano well.
All these things are well and good. But, remember they only satisfy for a time here on earth. If our ultimate goal is living in the presence of God; in His eternal Kingdom, then we might want to discipline ourselves in our journey (race?) for that goal.
In reality, we cannot run the race and win; for life in the Kingdom of God was already won for us on the cross by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. I feel justified in calling it a race only because some days I seem to be in a pretty big hurry to see that Kingdom in all of God's glory.
May God bless your journey...
God's Peace - Pr. J
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