Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Our fifth Olympics parallel is that there are keys to winning.

Today’s scripture, 1 Corinthians 9:24‭-‬27 (NLT) says…
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Consider…
My favorite events in the Olympics are the track races. With my short attention span, I like the sprints more than the marathons. Thus the two most compelling races to me are the 400m and 800m races. Both races are a good blend of speed and strategy.

I have often heard the Christian race is a marathon based on Hebrews 12:1. However, I disagree that the Christian race is a marathon for everyone. My dissenting opinion is based on the author’s emphasis on running the race that God set before us. The race of the repentant thief on the cross was a sprint, as he was saved just before he died (Luke 23.40-43). Whereas Enoch’s race was a 365 year marathon as he was credited with walking with God all of his life before being taken straight from earth to eternity (Genesis 5:23-24).

This reveals an Olympic parallel, which is each athlete is called and chosen to run the race best suited for their abilities. In the same way, God has placed you in the race that He wants you to run.

Regardless of the race, there are common keys to winning…

• Run to win the prize
• Run with purpose
• Run disciplined and trained

Key number one of running to win the prize is about moving in faith fueled by hope of achieving the goal. In today’s scripture Paul said…
So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

Notice Paul said run to win an eternal prize. That tells me that you must understand your goal before you can reach it. I humbly submit Jesus set the common goal for all of us in Matthew 6:33 (NLT). He said…
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

No matter the distance God has set for you to run, He wants you to seek His Kingdom and live righteously. This means our transformation in Christ is both instant and infinite. Once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, don’t look back. In fact He said…
“Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62 NLT

Focus on the Kingdom of God, which is the finish line and the prize!

The second key of running with purpose makes me think of 2 Corinthians 5:6‭-‬10 (ESV), which says…
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

There are moments of adversity all athletes will face in their race, those are the times they have to keep the faith and muster the courage to continue pursuing the prize.

I hear Milton Brunson’s choir singing…
The race is not given, to the swift nor to the strong,
But to the one that endures, until the end,
They’ll be problems,
And sometimes you walk alone, but I know, that I know that I know,
It will work out, yes it will for the good of them
Choir: For the good of them,
Lead: For the good of them.
Choir: For the good, of them
Lead: Who loves, the, Lord

This runs my mind to Romans 8:28 (NLT), which encourages…
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Two thoughts just flashed in my mind…

• Purpose pushes us
• We need to be pushed by God’s purpose

Which leads us to our third and final key of running disciplined and trained.

The athletes that participate in the Olympics have God given talents and abilities. However, they cannot use those talents and abilities at their best until they are honed by an objective and invested coach/trainer who sees their potential and wants them to win. That’s who the Holy Spirit is for us.

This is why Paul writes…
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. – Galatians 5:16 NLT

And Jesus explains…
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. – John 14:26 NLT

God has given us our coach and personal trainer that can help us win the eternal prize. One reason the Holy Spirit is uniquely qualified to help is explained 1 Corinthians 2:9‭-‬12 (NLT)…
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

Just like the coaches of the Olympic athletes know the rules and the personal trainer’s know how to get optimal performance out of their athlete’s God given talents and abilities, the Holy Spirit knows how to align our faith and actions with God’s will. I like the way Romans 8:26‭-‬27 (NLT) makes the point…
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

So today, use the keys we found watching the Olympics, which are…

• Run to win the eternal prize
• Run with God’s purpose
• Run disciplined and trained by the Holy Spirit

If we do this, then just like each Olympic champion, we’ll win the gold. Actually, 1 Peter 1:7 reveals finishing the race will prove our faith is more precious than gold.

Another parallel just dawned on me, we have to win the trials before we can win the race!

Now that you have the keys, use them to unlock your victory in Jesus!

Today’s song is…
Winning

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)