Serious Competitor!

There are activities we participate in that are only side focuses. Interests such as crafts, music, painting, photography, sports, woodworking, etc., may occupy a little time in our lives. However, for some such activities may become the focal point of their life. One of the things that has amazed me when listening to interviews of athletes who have trained for the Olympics is how much of their life had become DEVOTED TO THE GOAL! Young figure skaters have talked of the hours and hours spent on the ice beginning in the early hours of the morning and then again late at night. Years of exercising self-control and a strict regimen in preparation for the competition is an obvious sign of taking it all very seriously. It’s as if the skating had BECOME THEIR LIFE, only squeezing in school studies, eating and sleeping, and other activities whenever possible. The skating becomes the ALL CONSUMING thing with the goal of “Olympic Gold” in mind.

Writing to the church at Corinth Paul exhorted…
“(24) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? SO RUN THAT YOU MAY OBTAIN IT. (25) Every athlete exercises SELF-CONTROL IN ALL THINGS. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (26) So I DO NOT RUN AIMLESSLY; I do not box as one beating the air. (27) But I DISCIPLINE MY BODY AND KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” ( 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV)

Living for God was not a side focus, but rather the ALL CONSUMING thing for Paul. He may have been a tentmaker ( Acts 18:1-4) on the side from time to time, but living for Christ and sharing Christ had become his life. It was Paul’s reason for existing and he pressed on with the aim of receiving the imperishable victor’s crown. All Paul did revealed his DEVOTION TO THE GOAL and as He shared God’s rules for life with others, he was intent on following God’s Will so as to not be disqualified himself . May we also remain focused on running life’s race according to God’s rule in our hearts with a focus fixed on the goal of eternal life.

Have a great day STAYING IN THE RACE!
Carl

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