May 23, 1993
Paul used the example of an athlete to illustrate the discipline required by a life of faith. Like training for a race, our spiritual progress requires discipline, training, and effort. Victory, teaches Alistair Begg, depends on the refusal to allow our eyes to wander, our minds to settle, and our affections to run after things that draw us away from Christ. Compelled by the love of Christ, we will run to win.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control,2 lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Copyright © 2023, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.