Racing for the Prize

READ: 1 Corinthians 9: 24 – 27
MORE LESSON: Philippians 3: 7 - 15

The Christian earthly walk is likened to a race. When men run in a race, there is a prize which is at stake. In every race, there is always an expectation of a reward. It is the expectation of the prize that drives athletes to work hard, make sacrifices and be disciplined. One medal won may compensate for many years of labour of preparation. The Olympic Games, for example, gives gold, silver and bronze medals to the top three finishers. Some other competitions give other forms of reward but there is always a prize attached to every competition.

Christianity is a race. Like every race, there is a prize which awaits us. The Lord has promised crowns for those who successfully run the race to the end. We shall be given the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4: 8), the crown of life (Rev. 2: 10), the crown of glory (1 Pet. 5: 4), the incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9: 25) and the crown of gold like our Master. Winning a prize in a race is likened to overcoming. This is because every winner must have overcome certain hurdles, limitations and competitors. There are rewards that await the overcomer, which include: eating of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God (Rev. 2: 7), not being touched by the second death (Rev. 2: 11), eating of the hidden manna, receiving a white stone with a new name written on it which no one else knows (Rev. 2:17), being clothed in white raiment, having a name before God the Father, and His angels (Rev. 3:5), being made a pillar in the temple of God (Rev 3:12), being given authority over the nations (Rev. 2: 26 – 28), being granted to sit with Christ on His throne, even as Jesus overcame and sits with the Father on His throne (Rev 3:21).

Our prize, among the many wonderful things listed, includes sitting where Jesus Christ sits. Jesus is seated at the right hand side of the Father. The right hand signifies the place of authority; therefore, we will sit at the place of highest authority with the Lord. This will manifest physically at the Second Coming of the Lord, at which time Jesus will reign physically as the King of the whole earth. We who have run and finished the race will be given authority to rule with Him. We shall be judges, rulers, governors and people of authority in the Kingdom. We will be given nations, states, cities, systems, organisations and people to manage and rule for the Lord. This is a very great prize that is worth racing for. Therefore, I urge you to run so that you may win (1 Cor. 9: 24).

Prayer/Action

• Declare that you will not run the race of life aimlessly, but you will run to obtain the prize.
• Ask for grace not to quit until you see Jesus.
• Examine your life and drop whatever can hinder you from obtaining the prize.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Heavenly Father, whatever will hinder me from serving You faithfully and graciously this year, take it away from me now, in the name of Jesus.