Dear e-votees-
Two of our four texts for this Sunday deal with leprosy being cleansed. You can check them out at 2 Kings 5:1-14 (the cleansing of Naaman) and Mark 1:40-45 (Jesus healing a leper). You know that these are about more than just leprosy, don’t you?
For our focus this week we will take a look at the epistle lesson from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth.
Peace,
Karl
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Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NRSV
Paul is using a familiar image of athletes in training to talk about the life of faith. Paul is not so much suggesting that only one person will be saved but rather that there are many ways to “train” and not all are equally beneficial. We should choose the better ways.
Athletes go through incredible diet and training regimens in order to prepare themselves for their contests. They may forgo regular social lives or schooling arrangements in order to chase after Olympic gold. They may practice the same routines or the same maneuver multiple thousands of times so that they respond instinctually at the crucial moment. The focus is remarkable.
The remarkable strains and constraints that these athletes endure are for wreaths that wilt and ribbons that rot and trophies that decompose. Records will be beaten. Title belts will change torsos. Accomplishments will be forgotten. Bodies will break down. Teams will disband.
Paul argues that if athletes give so much for that which is fading how much more should we engage the salvation in Jesus Christ which never fades?
Paul says that he doesn’t (and by implication we shouldn’t) run aimlessly which tires us unnecessarily. He doesn’t beat the air (shadow boxing is much more tiring that fighting true opponents since the body of the opponent isn’t helping slow the punches). We are to engage the fight and to train but in ways that are productive.
How is God calling you to train? How is God calling you to fight? It has been my long proven experience that training works better with partners and teammates. Who might God be calling you to join in training? Who would God want fighting at your side? Dare you invite them?
God, draw us into deep and lasting engagement with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us never tire of doing as you have called us. Give us wisdom and courage to join others in the training and the competition. When whatever prizes come our way give us the humility to cast them at your feet in adoration. Amen.
Two of our four texts for this Sunday deal with leprosy being cleansed. You can check them out at 2 Kings 5:1-14 (the cleansing of Naaman) and Mark 1:40-45 (Jesus healing a leper). You know that these are about more than just leprosy, don’t you?
For our focus this week we will take a look at the epistle lesson from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth.
Peace,
Karl
------------
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
Paul is using a familiar image of athletes in training to talk about the life of faith. Paul is not so much suggesting that only one person will be saved but rather that there are many ways to “train” and not all are equally beneficial. We should choose the better ways.
Athletes go through incredible diet and training regimens in order to prepare themselves for their contests. They may forgo regular social lives or schooling arrangements in order to chase after Olympic gold. They may practice the same routines or the same maneuver multiple thousands of times so that they respond instinctually at the crucial moment. The focus is remarkable.
The remarkable strains and constraints that these athletes endure are for wreaths that wilt and ribbons that rot and trophies that decompose. Records will be beaten. Title belts will change torsos. Accomplishments will be forgotten. Bodies will break down. Teams will disband.
Paul argues that if athletes give so much for that which is fading how much more should we engage the salvation in Jesus Christ which never fades?
Paul says that he doesn’t (and by implication we shouldn’t) run aimlessly which tires us unnecessarily. He doesn’t beat the air (shadow boxing is much more tiring that fighting true opponents since the body of the opponent isn’t helping slow the punches). We are to engage the fight and to train but in ways that are productive.
How is God calling you to train? How is God calling you to fight? It has been my long proven experience that training works better with partners and teammates. Who might God be calling you to join in training? Who would God want fighting at your side? Dare you invite them?
God, draw us into deep and lasting engagement with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us never tire of doing as you have called us. Give us wisdom and courage to join others in the training and the competition. When whatever prizes come our way give us the humility to cast them at your feet in adoration. Amen.
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