May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Topic: *DONT RUN THE RACE FOR FUN, RUN TO WIN*
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 King James Version (KJV)
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Beloved, this Christian life we are living is like running a race. At the end of the competition, there is always one winner.
Beloved don't just live a lackadaisical Christian life. Live like you are on the tracks running to overtake every other person, stay in the lead till you complete the race to win for yourself an incorruptible crown which our Father in heaven has prepared for anyone who wins this race.
Beloved athletes run to win medals and other awards that are corruptible. Even for these corruptible things or awards they train always and put in their best to stay in the best of shapes to keep them at the top always so they can win anytime they compete.
They control their diet among other strict rules they subject their bodies to so they don't get out shape but always stay fit to win every race they engage in.
Beloved, this Christian race that we are running demands a similar discipline. We have to be self disciplined so we don't just do what we like to make the flesh happy but subdue the flesh and train for this race always so we are in shape to be the best and win the crown our Daddy has prepared for us.
Dont just do anything because you feel like it. Do it because it will help you compete in the best of shapes and win the race. Self discipline is a very difficult one but you need it to be the best so practise it.
To teach others to discipline themselves and enforce certain strict rules to keep them in line is very easy but to discipline your own self to stay in line is very very difficult so be careful not discipline and control others to stay in shape whiles you fail to discipline your own self so that at the end of the competition, the others will attain the crown whiles you fail at attaining it.
Beloved, run this race with certainty that there is a crown awaiting you when you win, don't run as though you are running for nothing. Dont fight as someone beating the air aimlessly, you have an opponent in the ring. Like a boxer gets into the ring to fight his opponent and bring him down to be victorious, fight your desires, your flesh and bring them under subjection, be victorious over them for the purposes of the race you are in. So you can win the crown.
Beloved, *IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS* and no one else. Jesus run His race when He was on earth. He fought His fight here on earth and He won and Daddy gave Him His crown. Today He has a name above all names, He is seated at the right hand of Daddy ever interceding for us so we could also win our races.
Prayer: Daddy please empower me to be self disciplined to run the race and win so I receive the incorruptible crown you have prepared for me. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
_EXHIBIT YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS AND THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY SHALL SURELY REWARD YOU_
#itsallaboutjesus
