Many of the players of our high school football team are showing up in the school’s weight room by the droves. Why?
They are getting ready now for playing well in the fall. They are doing strength training, agility training, core development, and focused muscle development for those coming off of injuries. They have opponents that are also preparing for the fall season. They plan on being better than any opponent they face.
There is a spiritual application to be gained from the football team’s example of early preparation and dedication. The apostle Paul writes to a church in Corinth and uses sports training as an illustration for spiritual victory.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“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 a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 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.”
What was on the line for Paul was the telling of the good news of the gospel to as many people as he could before the end of his life. Victory happened when a person heard and responded to the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was placed in a tomb, was raised from the dead after three days and appeared to more than 500 people before returning to heaven. The Holy Spirit was sent to give His followers power to live life for Him until He returns.
Paul planned on overcoming every opponent he faced that would try to prevent him from reaching this goal.
The best spiritual training for us involves a close relationship with Jesus Christ, a vibrant prayer life with the Father, and a clear leading of the Holy Spirit. Time spent in the spiritual weight room praying, worshiping, studying Scripture, memorizing Scripture develops our spiritual muscles and heals past injuries.
What have you found helpful in your spiritual weight room?
Comment here:
They are getting ready now for playing well in the fall. They are doing strength training, agility training, core development, and focused muscle development for those coming off of injuries. They have opponents that are also preparing for the fall season. They plan on being better than any opponent they face.
There is a spiritual application to be gained from the football team’s example of early preparation and dedication. The apostle Paul writes to a church in Corinth and uses sports training as an illustration for spiritual victory.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“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 a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 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.”
What was on the line for Paul was the telling of the good news of the gospel to as many people as he could before the end of his life. Victory happened when a person heard and responded to the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was placed in a tomb, was raised from the dead after three days and appeared to more than 500 people before returning to heaven. The Holy Spirit was sent to give His followers power to live life for Him until He returns.
Paul planned on overcoming every opponent he faced that would try to prevent him from reaching this goal.
The best spiritual training for us involves a close relationship with Jesus Christ, a vibrant prayer life with the Father, and a clear leading of the Holy Spirit. Time spent in the spiritual weight room praying, worshiping, studying Scripture, memorizing Scripture develops our spiritual muscles and heals past injuries.
What have you found helpful in your spiritual weight room?
Comment here:
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