So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 1 Corinthians 9:26

There’s a difference between acknowledging a doctrine that says that God is All-Powerful and living a victorious Christian life that expresses and demonstrates how All-Powerful God really is. In the same way, there’s a difference between running on a treadmill and going nowhere and running in a race to win the prize (Phil 3:14). Paul tells us in today’s verse to, “Run in such a way that you may win”.

The implication here is that we can run in such a way as to not win…we can go through the motions. We can ‘just get it over with’. Or we can run to win.

There’s a story of a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, “What are you doing?”
The laborer said, “Can’t you see I’m laying bricks?”
The man then walked over to another bricklayer and asked, “What are you doing?” And the workman answered, “I’m building a cathedral.” 

Both were physically doing the same thing, but the first laborer was occupied with the present task, and the other was concerned with the ultimate goal. I’m told that this is a true story. But as I look around me it’s easy to identify people serving God who resemble both of the workers.  It’s easy to become encumbered by the urgent, entangled in the web of our own faithlessness.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.” (Heb 12:1)

When we run our race … whatever it may be, we need to put on our Faith, be adorned with Love, go all-out for the prize. We run to receive a crown of righteousness. (2 Tim 4:8) It is not a crown of riches, but a crown that carries a message to all who see it. It tells those around us how All-Powerful God really is.

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14)