Daily Devotional for Monday, August 8

A Disciplined Race

A good illustration can use just a few words to make an easily recognizable point; Paul was pretty good at the use of an illustration. His use of a racing illustration would have made instant sense to citizens of Corinth, as they would have seen the reference to both the Olympics and the Isthmian games and gotten the point. In these games, the winner not only had to finish first, but he had to have conducted his race in accordance with the rules. If he played fair, so to speak, he would be rewarded and get a crown. If he did not, he would not. 

Salvation does matter; God grants salvation based on His grace and your faith, and it can never be taken from you. On the other hand, you run a race in which God has told you the correct way to run. At the finish, those who run properly will be rewarded, and those who do not run properly will not be rewarded. 

Paul makes the point that a large part of your success is based on self-control; your walk of faith is to be intentional. You are fully empowered by the Holy Spirit to have the ability to avoid those things that displease God, and to do the things that please Him. One day the race will be over, and you will face the bema or Judgment Seat of Christ, and your conduct will be evaluated. Will you hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant?” Will you be given crowns to cast at Jesus’ feet? Or will you hear…nothing?

JUST A THOUGHT: The joys of entering Heaven will be greatly multiplied if you enter Heaven knowing you served honorably for your Lord.

Wally Fry