Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly;  I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I would like to say that I am still in the shape that I was in 15 years ago, but I am not.  Fifteen years ago, I would wake up at 3:30 a.m., go and run four miles, and then go to the gym and do 45 minutes of resistance training, come home and shower and make it to my office for 7:00.  I have tried several times to regain that level of self-discipline, but once I lost it, it has been very difficult to get it back.

In today’s scripture passage Paul talks about the need for self-discipline and compares it to running a race.  Now at the time that I was running regularly, I entered 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons.  I never achieved marathon status. I knew one thing when I entered big races like those held in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.  I knew that I didn’t stand a chance at winning.  But that didn’t make me try any less.  I didn’t run any easier.  I ran as if I was going for the prize.  I ran just as hard or harder than I ran on my daily races.  What would have been the point of me getting up and driving the hour it takes for me to get to New Orleans or Baton  Rouge and not run the best I could?  These races were being run for medallions or small trophies and of course you got the t-shirt.

My friend, this race we are running is for eternal life.  It is for a mansion in heaven where we can spend eternity with God the Father.  This is the prize of all prizes.  Why wouldn’t we run our best race ever?

But just like running or any type of hobby or sport, if you want to be good at it, you must practice.  You must exert self-discipline.  Now this may sound silly, but while running a race I didn’t allow myself to be distracted by what I saw along the way.  For example,  I didn’t see a nail salon and stop and think, “Wow I could really use a pedicure right now!”  and then drop in for a pedicure before completing the race.  That sounds crazy, right?  But how many times do we do that in our lives.  We are running along, doing a great job and we allow the devil to distract us.  We are going about our lives, doing the work that God has called us to do and the devil throws some temptation in our path.

So I ask you today, how is your race going?  Are you training like you should, disciplining yourself to do what is needed to make you a strong athlete?  Or are you stopping along the way and being distracted?

It is God’s intention for us to run the race and finish and get the grand prize.  The devil intends to stop us and see to it that we don’t get the prize.  The devil also wants to stop us from encouraging other runners along the way.

So today, I encourage you to run a good race.  Give it all you’ve got.  Train hard and run hard.  Be an encouragement to others.  Remember to keep your eyes on the prize.

Have a great day!