God Direction: Train as if you are in the Olympics

This is an interesting direction. But first I have a confession to make. I have allowed distractions to get in the way of studying God's word and writing these devotions. I can give you all the excuses but in the end they are just excuses. Forgive me for letting you down if you have been looking for more devotions. I pray that my sin and confession will show that I am human and that this will be helpful in setting an example that we are all sinners in need of a Savior and God gave us that Savior in His son Jesus Christ. Also I remind you that these devotions are as much for me as they are for you.

As I was watching the Winter Olympics, I pulled out the Bible to read and I came across 1 Corinthians 9:24-25:

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. 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.¹

These verses just popped out at me. What great verses for this time. Let's try to put these verses in today's terms and go a little deeper:

All the athletes at the Olympics are there to compete. They come not just for the fun of it but to do their best. Many are told that they don't have a chance to win but they still compete. They still give all they can to do their best. The reality is there is only one winner. No matter how many times we say "everyone is a winner at the Olympic Games," who remembers the silver or bronze winners, let alone the one who placed fourth or further down the list? But they all push themselves as hard as they can trying to win. They all push for the dream of standing on the podium receiving the gold medal.

We should all be living our lives in that way, training hard so that we may compete for the gold; training by reading and studying the Bible, praying, and attending Church and study groups. With these disciplines we are equipped to run the race God has marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1). We should be strengthened by knowing that Jesus is on our side. (Romans 8:31-39) He, with the Holy Spirit, is our trainer. If we listen to God and follow His training advice, accepting that Jesus is our Savior, victory is ours. If these Olympic athletes are willing to push themselves to the limits just to receive a gold necklace that will be useless to them at the time of their death, how much more should we train to receive a reward in Heaven? Remember second place is literally Hell!

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we can earn our way to Heaven, but we can lose.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ^Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.²

Let us pray: Father God we thank you for being there. We thank you for being our trainer. Help us to follow your ways so that we may win the race you have given us. Give us the strength to persevere in the tough times pushing ahead to the goal. In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.

¹The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Co 9:24-25). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
²The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Pe 5:8-9). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.