Taken from a WayForward devotional in 2025.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-26
Winning is all around us. We want to win the sports game, win the card game, win the approval of a boss, or even “win” in business. I recently took a personality test that listed “Winner” as a trait. Winners turn any mundane task into a game or challenge because the feeling of competition drives them. They feel lost in environments without a clear measure of success.
Paul taps into that drive when he speaks about running the Christian life like a race. But for Paul, winning is not about the competition of outpacing and outperforming others—it’s about proclaiming Christ. Just before this passage, he says, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save somepeople. I do it all for the sake of the gospel.” Paul wasn’t compromising truth nor gamifying Christian success; he was contextualizing the gospel so others could see Jesus clearly. His prize was not a medal, but the joy of seeing people saved.
Athletes train with incredible discipline, denying themselves comfort in preparation of standing on the podium. Paul calls believers to the same kind of discipline—except our goal is eternal. We run not for a perishable crown, but for the imperishable prize of making disciples and glorifying Christ.
If our faith does not lead to healthy discipleship and disciple-making, then like an athlete who failed to train, something in our spiritual discipline needs adjustment. Discipleship requires focus, endurance, and intentional aim.
So, run the race for the sake of the gospel. Train with discipline. Live with purpose. And never forget the ultimate prize—sharing in the blessings of Christ and helping others do the same.
D o m i n i c R o s a t o 