1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, 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.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play in the
Super Bowl? It’s a long and tough road to get there, and the two teams that
make it have put together a rare combination of hard work, determination, and
even a bit of luck!
As you watch the Super Bowl
you will see so many different storylines come into play, but at the end
of the day we all just want good commercials and a great game.
You are a professional “athlete,” not in the NFL, but in a
much greater league.
As a Christian, you might be a raving lunatic fan for
the NFL, or maybe you can’t name a single team—but either way there are some
fascinating parallels between the Super Bowl and our time serving Jesus here on
earth. Here are two thoughts that I want
to share that will hopefully encourage you as you strive to make the most out
of your journey through life with Christ.
The first thought you are a professional “athlete,” not in
the NFL, but in a much greater league that offers an eternal reward that makes
winning a trophy look like a free hot dog by comparison. Here’s the way the Apostle Paul puts it:
We all know that when there’s a race, all the runners bolt
for the finish line, but only one will take the prize. When you run, run for
the prize! Athletes in training are very strict with themselves, exercising
self-control over desires, and for what? For a wreath that soon withers or is
crushed or simply forgotten. That is not our race. We run for the crown that we
will wear for eternity. So I don’t run aimlessly. I don’t let my eyes drift off
the finish line. When I box, I don’t throw punches in the air. I discipline my body and make it my slave so
that after all this, after I have brought the gospel to others, I will still be
qualified to win the prize 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Can you name the last 48 Super Bowl winners or MVPs? I doubt most people could, and that is Paul’s
point here. At the time, those folks
thought they had reached the pinnacle of victory, and now the majority of
people on earth don’t even remember their names.
But when we see the Christian life as a daily “all in”
competition with our selfish and sinful nature, we will achieve a victory and
glory for our Father that will never perish or fade! So wake up each morning
with a game day mindset. Tell the Lord
that you are ready to walk in His power and follow His will wherever it leads.
Second thought when you watch the Super Bowl, observe how
carefully the quarterback keeps his eyes on the clock. He knows that he has only 60 minutes of
playing time to make every snap, handoff and pass count as much as possible. He knows that when the clock runs out and the
whistle blows, he may never have a chance for a Super Bowl victory again.
And as you think about your walk with Jesus Christ, ponder
this directive from God’s Word:
Look carefully then
how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise
and witless, but as wise sensible, intelligent people, making the very most of
the time buying up each opportunity, because the days are evil Ephesians
5:15-16.
Each day is like the snap of the ball for The Cause of
Christ.
When you start to envision your walk with Christ as a
trained athlete who is racing against the clock to bring glory to God, the
Christian life takes on a whole new level of meaning and excitement! And don’t be fooled by all the time we seem
to have left, because, in my opinion, we are in the fourth quarter at the
two-minute warning. Each day is like the
snap of the ball for The Cause of Christ, and we must carefully plan out our
“plays” before the whistle blows!
So as you eat the goodies and enjoy Super Sunday with your
family and friends, take some time to reflect on the reality that your life
with Jesus. Realize that you are on a team (the church) that is competing for
the ultimate prize and victory! The
stakes are eternal, and like the athletes in the game, we must put ourselves
into the strict training of prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and sharing the
gospel for the sake of Christ and His Cause!
Dear Lord, we pray that we would be ready for the game we
call life. Help us to pray, stay in Your Word and fellowship with other
believers so that we are ready for whatever we come across. In the Name of Jesus,
Amen.
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