S.O.S.

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.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

I can’t imagine what sort of training it takes to win an olympic gold medal. Let’s just consider the Olympic Swimmer for a moment. Morning and afternoons, following a white line in the water. For years. Wow. And mostly… that’s just to get a piece of metal. 

Paul reminds us that Christians are in training for something far greater than a gold medal or even the riches or fame that some athletes train for. We train for a crown that will last forever. A glory and a joy and the riches of paradise with God, His people in His perfect place forever.

So then. How much more disciplined should we be with our training? But where do Sunday’s fit into this? Well, I think Sundays have a few features common to sports/athletics. 

Sundays are like a team meeting where the coach gives the tactics talk before we walk back out onto the field. It’s the place where teammates encourage each other. It’s also where we get to practise the team songs that we will sing in victory. This is what we miss when we are absent on Sunday.

For Today:

• How do you see Church on a Sunday?
• How has Church helped you to run the Christian race?
• What do you need help with today to keep running the race?

Pray:
Praise the Father for His grace in the blessings of eternal life. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who finished His race and won the prize for us. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others be encouraged at Church to keep running.