The Eternal Prize: Running the Race with Discipline in Christ

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

²⁴ 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. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ 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. (NIV)

There is a crown that lasts forever and a crown that doesn’t. 

The nature of human desire prompts us to pursue our desires. Often, we will discipline ourselves to obtain our desires. We display extreme discipline to talk a certain way, act a certain way, attend to certain places, and spend money in a certain way, all in pursuit of our desires. We might desire a promotion at work, or we might desire an uninhibited sex life. We may discipline our lifestyle to perform well at work, but we may also discipline ourselves to pursue others who engage in sex outside of marriage. We might discipline ourselves to be lazy. Some of these types of discipline take effort, while other disciplines are more easily followed because of the lusts of the flesh. But either way, we are purposely conforming our lives in pursuit of our desires. 

But there is only one prize that never spoils or fades and lasts forever. It is the prize of salvation and communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. Anything and everything else we might put forth effort to obtain will leave us unfulfilled and empty. But the prize of a Godly life in Christ brings with it joy, love, peace, and wisdom that only increases over time. Everything around us gets better over time. Although we still face challenges, we have gained greater wisdom, more power, and a stronger support system to overcome those issues and continue to pursue an abundant life. Let’s discipline ourselves to learn and follow the teachings of Christ. Efforts in pursuit of anything else more than Christ will leave our lives empty at best and utterly destroyed at worst. There is only one prize that lasts forever. 

Prayer, Lord, purify my desires so that all my effort to discipline my mind and body is in pursuit of deeper communion with You. Amen.