Insightful Musings on the New Testament
by
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67

Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.

Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray is following, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010.

|  Daily Reading Guide  |  2010 Devotion Archives  |
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16 July 2010
Passage: 1 Corinthians 9
Focus: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?”  1 Corinthians 9:24.
            I’m reflecting on the time we lived in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu where the World Cup soccer tournament was a very big deal.  It actually caused many government offices and local businesses to be weakened due to the volume of workers taking time off (whether approved or not) to watch the coverage of the games via satellite television.  It was an example of how obsessed the world can become with athletic competition.  It must have been the same in Paul’s day—less the satellite technology, of course.  So he gives a very understandable illustration when he likens the victorious Christian life to athletic excellence.
            Without attempting a lot of commentary, I think I will just quote here the last paragraph of this chapter. 
            “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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly, I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
            I would only request that you join me in asking a couple simple questions arising from this paragraph.  I hope you will recognize that they are pertinent questions relative to effective discipleship.  (1) To what degree am I engaged in strict training?  (2) To what degree do I rule my body? (—or does my body rule me?) 
 
            “God will give us all the direction we need for our lives if we will just listen to Him.”