Jesus uses a number of everyday activities to instruct His disciples how to live lives of faithfulness. He teaches the importance of listening to the word of God in obedient faith when he tells the parable of the farmer who scattered seed on various types of soil (Mark 4:1-20). He exhorts the disciples to be totally committed to living in His kingdom as He preaches about a merchant seeking fine pearls (Matthew 13:45-46).
The apostle Paul also makes use of everyday endeavors to teach Christians to be devoted in their spiritual journey. Sometimes he compares discipleship to farming or military duty like in II Timothy when he writes, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. And if someone likewise competes as an athlete, he is not crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops” (II Timothy 2:1-6).
However, Paul especially refers to Christian faithfulness with athletic illustrations like boxing or running. The Holy Spirit breathes through the pen of Paul as he exhorts the Corinthian church to live more disciplined lives when he writes, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (I Corinthians 9:24-27).
RUN IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU WIN! Great words of motivating wisdom from God’s word. We don’t want to run the Christian race and stop short of our goal. Even when fall down we want to get back up, ask for God’s forgiveness, and keep running the race ALL THE WAY TO THE END!
Read Philippians 3:12-16 and Hebrews 12:1-2. Then watch the (non-musical) video that shows an incredible physical victory in spite of a major setback. And, be sure to contemplate your own spiritual victory as you overcome setbacks in your life on your way to the final victory in Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.