1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Self-Discipline; Running the Race

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

Ezekiel 46 - Move Forward; Not Backward

“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate." (Ezekiel 46:9 NIV)

Sounds like God is even managing the worship traffic... Imagine instructions for getting up to the altar during Holy Communion in your congregation. Go up the middle and back to your seat by going around the side. Stay on the right side of the aisle as you go the altar and return on the left. I'm thinking that crowd control is the basic reason for this direction from God.

Have you ever found yourself on a one way street going the wrong way? It does cause a bit of a problem, doesn't it? It delays your arrival at the place that you were intending to go. God reminds us to keep going forward in the way that that He's set before us. As you worship the LORD, keep moving forward. Do not take side roads. Do not go backwards. Keep your heart and your mind on the goal that has been set in front of you. One step at a time, move forward to receive the Kingdom of God.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)

And... may the peace of the LORD be with you on your journey, as you press toward the goal of the Kingdom in Christ Jesus.  Pr. J