“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” 1Corinthians 9:25a
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air.” 1Corinthians 9:26
We must know what Paul had in mind here. We must see the metaphor for what it is, and for what it is not. For this end Expositors make this comment:
“The brightest jewel in the incorruptible crown is the joy of having become all God made us to become, of perfectly fulfilling the end of our creation, of being able to find happiness in goodness, in closest fellowship with God, in promoting what Christ lived and died to promote.”
I must admit an abject failure at any of this striving for the mastery, although I must concede that it is a deep desire of my heart. My discovery however admits that even in my failures there is something to learn. Indeed the failures have enabled me to identify with fellow men, many of which have also struggled with life. Brothers and sisters, we are eternally linked to a magnificent plan which disciplines us regardless of our intent or cooperation.
We have been predestinated (limited beforehand), not only to the adoption of children, as spoken of in Ephesians chapter one, but to be changed inwardly, and that change, is toward the very image of Christ.
So, Paul admonishes us to not be uncertain, neither to fight as one beating the air. As a runner, a Christian runs not in an indistinct way, nor in hiding his motivations — he shows up to win . And then as a boxer the believer not only models not his techniques , but tries to land his punches effectively. For example, as we find ourselves in the challenge of life, we seek God for the specific wisdom for our situation. We are fully aware that it is God that ordains our steps and has indeed allowed the situation. He promises a way of escape, that we might be able to bear it. See first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13.
1Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
Beloved let us run, not with impatience, doubt, or despair. For:
” …the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11
Situations come into our lives , often as conjunctures, often as accidents, as if fate were behind everything. My Son wrote in a song, ” …it came to pass, knocked me to my knees…”
“This limitation of man in his efforts, in spite of all his capacity, has its reason in this, that he is on the whole not master of his own life.” K and D.
We can and must be ready. How? 1st we must lay aside the weights and the sin which does so easily beset us.
“all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world.” “and thence any thing that is attached or suspended by a hook.” Extra clothing, food, etc. Weights, burdens, doubt, pride.”
And sin:
Tyndale renders it “the sin that hangeth on us.” Theodoret: what is full of peril, or the sin which so easily subjects one to calamity. Bloomfield supposes: “the sin which especially winds around us, and hinders our course,” with allusion to the long Oriental garments. According to this, the meaning would be, that as a runner would be careful not to encumber himself with a garment which would be apt to wind around his legs in running, and hinder him, so it should be with the Christian, who especially ought to lay aside everything which resembles this; that is, all sin, which must impede his course.” Gill
Beloved, lets live a prepared life and win. love ya
