Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 87

March 27;        I Corinthians 9:24;          142/260;        ‘Run To Win’

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Paul used sports analogies to teach spiritual truths.  Here he is likening running in a race to your sincerity in doing the work of the ministry.  Why would you sign up to run in a race and then not do the very best that you could.  That is the very point Paul is making, if you are a born again, Spirit filled Christian, in a very real sense, you have signed up to do the very best you can to continue the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Only one person will win first place in a race, but everyone who races can feel good about themselves if they ran with all of their heart, trying to win.  It is even better in our ministry for the Lord.  If we, every day, ask the Lord in prayer, to use us and give us opportunities to minister to others, we are ‘running our race to win.’  Again, why would you sign up to run in a race and not try to do the very best you can?  Why would you give your heart to Jesus and as a born again, Spirit filled Christian, knowing the change Jesus has made in your life, not purpose in your heart to do ‘run’ in a manner that will greatly help others make Him the Lord of their lives as well.  I was in the United States Marine Corp.  In boot camp we ran a lot.  The Drill Instructors used to say something that applies perfectly to Christianity.  If a recruit ran very slowly or dared to stop running, the Drill Instructor would scream at them, “if you quit (running) here, you will quit running over there (Viet Nam) and you will get yourself and others killed as well.”  If you quit ‘running’ your race as a Christian, the devil will do all he can to mess your life up.  Those you could have helped as a diligent, minister of the gospel and didn’t help, could die literally, without your ‘running to win.’