Run Hard

As big a deal as it is today, the original Olympic games were an even bigger deal! Let me explain. The Greeks started running and wrestling (and throwing things) almost 800 years before Jesus was born. They dedicated these sporting events to their gods; eventually, the Christian Emperor Theodosius outlawed the games because of their deep connection to pagan worship.

People in the early church were familiar with sports; we can see this in how New Testament writers like Paul used sports vocabulary to help us all better understand how we are to live as followers of Jesus. One of the best examples is in 1 Corinthians 9.

24 Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

In verse 24, Paul invites us to picture a footrace in a stadium (the word stadium even comes from the Greek word stadia); all are running but only one will win. Jesus calls us as His followers to give all that we are to running to win the path in which he leads us, nothing less. In verse 25, the verb “compete” is agonizomai in Greek (where we get our word agony). It is easy to be half-hearted about things, but nothing less than great and sacrificial training enables us to “run in such a way to win the prize.” The athletes at the ancient games won a wreath made from the laurel plant, but the prize God promises us is imperishable (literally, will never wilt or decay).

Here is God’s wonderful encouragement to us – yes, He calls us to exercise self-control in everything (v.25), but it does not depend on us! God has a plan and God prepares us for those plans. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Take heart, dear friends! No matter what each day brings, in Christ, God made each one of us for good works that He specifically planned for us to do. Let’s run hard, as individuals and as the church, for when we do, it is for His glory and for our good.

Jamie McElrath

Senior Pastor