Run in such a way....

Staying in the race is the easy part - not getting ‘side-tracked’ or ‘side-lined’, now that is the challenge.

Paul encourages us to ‘run in such a way as to win the prize and not get disqualified’ (paraphrased of course). This is not the only time he mentions running a race to win a prize (Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:1). He exhorts us to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, with perseverance and with focus.

On one hand, Paul tells us he doesn’t consider himself yet to have taken hold of it (Philippians 3:13) and then on the other hand he says he has “ fought the good fight, and finished the race” (2 Tim 4:7).

So then, what do we know of this race we are to run?

Well firstly, he is referring to the path we walk called life (SING ‘It’s life Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know, not as we know it).

And secondly he says to run it “In such a way...”  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

This is what I want to focus on.....

In such a way.....

‘That I myself may not be disqualified ‘

How do we get disqualified from a race? 

Break the rules 

Injury

Decision

‘In such a way’ - clearly meaning with knowledge of the rules then obedience, with integrity (doing the right thing even when no-one is looking) and application (put into practice, intentionally, that which you have been instructed to do).

So would it be fair to minimise it to these three words?

KNOW the Bible

OBEY the Word

APPLY the instructions 

KNOW OBEY APPLY - pick a book in the New Testament and simply read it. Read the whole letter as it was meant to be read. Try reading it out loud. Ask the Lord Himself to highlight something to ponder on. Then do it. 

1 Pe 3:15 tells us to always be ready with an answer for what we believe. You simply CANNOT do this IF you do not KNOW the Word. As a believer in Christ, it is imperative that you know the Word. 

1 Samuel 15:22 tells us that God would prefer us to Obey then sacrifice- Obey what? HIM! How do we know what He wants from us? We MUST read HIS Word.

To not be disqualified? This word in Greek is ‘Adokimos’ which when translated to the English means ‘a test of Apostleship’. It does not mean loss of salvation which many imply.

((Further reading where Paul backs this up :- Ro 8:13; Col 1:22-23; Heb 3:6; Heb 3:14; 1Pe 1:5))

The call on an Apostles life is ultimately found in these two Scriptures- 

1 Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbour as yourself.

2 GO into all the Earth, preach and teach the Good news and make disciples.

We can be disqualified from the race for not obeying the rules, or for getting injured ( so as to not look after ourselves) or by Deciding we simply can’t or don’t want to do it. 

We are never out of the race. We may get side-tracked (distractions). We may be side-lined. But our team, the body of Christ, continues to run corporately. 

The sun will still rise again tomorrow, until it doesn’t. Until we draw our last breath we will be running. 

Paul’s exhortation?

Intentional learning. Intentional living. Intentional loving.. 

Run in such a way.....

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 we see that Paul becomes all things to all men in order to save some. THIS is intentional love. To Disciple someone is to walk along side of them and teach them disciplines. It is important that our race does not become a tripping hazard.