Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians
"But one receives the prize."
Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24
USE OF IMAGERY
Paul was skilled as a writer. He used many literary devices in order to write effectively. One of those was to employ effective imagery.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,
but we for an imperishable crown.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
1. The imagery of a foot race
a) Running as a sport goes back ancient days.
b) Paul showed familiarity when he used this imagery.
2. Some featured noted
a) Competitors
A foot race is not real if there is only one competitor.
b) The crowning of the winner:
i) There was just one winner.
ii) They did not have second or third places then.
c) The crown
i) This was a laurel wreath.
ii) It was placed on the head of the winner.
iii) It was called a “crown”.
d) The training program
i) Those who took the races seriously trained hard.
ii) They were “temperate” in everything they did.
iii) They exercised self-control.
3. The Application of the imagery
a) Our faith-life may be compared to a race.
b) There is a need to be serious about running well.
c) The runner must learn to live well and carefully.
d) He must desire to win the prize.
e) The crown we will obtain from the Lord is an imperishable one
It is worth our while to train hard and well!