[Run to Win] Top PerformanceSample

Competing Correctly

An athlete wanting to compete in a race in the Olympic or Isthmian Games had to undergo 10 months of training before participation. He also had to know the fundamentals and rules that would allow him to achieve victory legitimately. While training, competitors had to separate themselves from their customary activities to participate in prescribed exercises and undergo a rigid diet. Every competitor in the Olympic Games had to take an oath before the statue of Zeus and declare that he had undergone this strict training. If the athlete failed to comply with or broke any of the rules, he was disqualified from the competition and bore the shame of failing to achieve his purpose.

The apostle Paul was very clear about all the work, discipline, and effort involved in establishing a group of believers as authentic disciples of Christ. We can see part of his teaching in the letters he wrote to Timothy, a young man he had taken on as his disciple and well known to anyone in the Greek or Roman world.

Paul wrote to Timothy, reminding the latter there are rules that govern how to minister to others. These rules include honesty and fairness, care for those in the group, and love for outsiders. Competing in the race of our life according to the rules ensures our opportunity to receive the crown of victory when our race ends. In contrast, competing without following the rules robs the Christian of the opportunity to receive the prize that our Lord has promised us.

How do you want to compete? How do you want to run your race? Do you want to be a legitimate winner of an incorruptible crown? Let us run with strength and courage, guarding and treasuring the fundamentals of the faith in Jesus Christ, knowing our purpose while our race lasts is to lead others to the Coach who strengthens and teaches us, sustains us, and helps us to reach the finish line.

Lord, help me compete in sports and life by training hard and following the rules. Let me position myself to receive rewards in this life and in eternity. Thank you for the opportunity to run and win for Your glory!

TheSports Ministry Institute(SMI) was created under GCSD to minister to athletes from a wide variety of sports, with simple, thought-provoking devotions for athletes to think about their sport and their athletics inside the biblical worldview of God and His grace. Be equipped as an athlete/minister today. Pre-register for SMI Core Curriculum now!