City Life Starter

I. The Word: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 (NIV)

Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The Need for Self-Discipline
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.

By Stefan Johnsson

The good thing about Paul is that he understands how to best communicate with gentiles such as ourselves in order to gain a stronger knowledge of the gospel. Paul had a lot of time to experience and understand the meaning of running a race while he was imprisoned in Caesarea Maritime.

Paul wants us to show that there is a difference between living a life without a goal in mind compared to living a life with a goal and a heavenly prize. The difference is that if you aim to win the prize, you will do whatever you can to reach that reward. If you understand what an athlete has to go through, then you know that there is practice and sweat involved to get to that place where you are able to succeed and win. No one will practice without a goal in mind.

If you, as a Christian, do not understand that living your life here on Earth is like being part of a race, then you will not experience the full potential that God has for you and your abilities to reach people on this Earth. Paul did all he could to reach others for Christ. He went to the Jews, the Gentiles, the weak, the criminals, and the righteous. He wanted to win as many people for Christ as he could because his aim was for others to know God.

Are you running the race in such a way to win as many people for Christ as you can? Or are you running aimlessly without a goal in mind? You have to see that our mission on Earth is to reach others for Christ in whatever way possible, and if we fail to see this mission, we will not run a race to reach the finish. We will end up lost in the busyness of life.