The Set-Up:
After Paul started the church in Corinth, he went on to preach the gospel in other places. However, Paul recognized the importance of continuing to teach the church in Corinth, so he wrote letters to them and encouraged them about what it means to be a follower of Christ.
In today’s passage, Paul compares the Christian journey to a race. He says we should run so as to win the prize.
Recently there was a viral video featuring a runner who lost her shoe just a few feet into the race. While everyone was speeding toward the finish line, she was actually running back toward the start line to retrieve her shoe. At this point, as you can imagine, she was well behind the pack, but instead of giving up, she decided to run so as to win the prize. She came from behind and ended up finishing the race in first place! She won the prize.
As Christians, we run the race so as to win the prize - eternity with our heavenly Father. And thankfully, we can all win the prize. As long as we run the race of faith with discipline and endurance, we can rest assured that we will spend eternity in heaven and receive our heavenly crown.
Passage to Read:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-3
Reflection Questions:
What are some challenges you face as a Christian?
How do you handle the challenges you face?
How can you encourage someone else who may be struggling in their Christian journey?
Prayer Idea:
Take some time to talk to God about the challenges you face. Ask God to help you to get back up and continue running the race, even when you face obstacles. Pray for your friends and family members who may be facing challenges, that they would increase in faith.