“Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain.” 

1 Corinthians 9:24

“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step….” (1 Corinthians 9:25-26).

God has a prosperous future for His children and each of us are to run the race set before us. The problem is that most of us don’t know or we forget that we’re in a race. The person who consistently does the right thing will eventually win. Winners have a better attitude than losers. A bad attitude is a choice. Whatever you do, do it with excellence and in grace. Build to last. The destiny of the diligent will never be the company of the obscure and insignificant. The Bible says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” (Prov. 22:29).

We accept the fact that we must train in order to do something well. If you want to become skilled in medicine, or law, or computer programming, or carpentry, or preaching, or anything else, you have to prepare yourself through discipline and study, perhaps years of it. And the same is true when it comes to the practice of Christianity.

If we want to grow in Christ, we have to discipline ourselves. We have to pray, and read, and study, and labour to put our faith into practice. The athletes, in order to win, would give intense commitment to their training. They give themselves completely to their sport, training their minds and bodies for excellence. If they are so dedicated and determined; if they are so willing to sacrifice and suffer, when all they are striving after is a little tin trophy, or a yellow jersey, or a few moments of glory, things that last for only a moment shouldn’t we be just as dedicated and determined in seeking after Christ? Isn’t an eternal weight of glory worth far more than a gold medal or a Super Bowl ring?

In running this race of life, we must persevere because the race is not an easy race. We are face daily with pressures from the world and our flesh. Perseverance comes by looking away from our circumstances and fixing our gaze on Christ, remembering what He did for us, and fixing our hope on what He has promised to do for us and by relying not on our strength but on the Lord’s.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).

In order to run well, we must stay on the path of salvation in Christ Jesus and total obedience to the will of God the Father guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God otherwise we may find ourselves in a ditch, with our wheels spinning in the air. Thankfully, God has promised that if we seek Him, he will keep us on the path and at the end win the race.

Garment of Praise

Monthly Insights for Spiritual Growth, Encouragement and Personal Victory.

Oluyemisi Onanuga

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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