“So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

In my neck of the woods, school starts Monday. The students—and for that matter, teachers—aren’t terribly excited, but parents across the county are thrilled. As someone put it when we were talking about it at Bible study Wednesday night, she’s not so much excited about school itself as she is about the consistent schedule and structure. With the start of school comes the start of school sports. Accordingly, last night we had our first high school cross country meet. The whole affair has me feeling a bit reflective this morning, so let’s dive in together.

We have lots of little ones active in our church right now. One of my absolute favorite of the bunch is Miles. Miles is three, and he is also awesome. One of the things he likes to do most at church is to run around fairly aimlessly. He’s just so full of life and energy that it has to come out or he’ll explode.

Most Wednesday nights after he’s finished eating, Miles gets down and starts making his circuit around the room. I’d say he probably goes home and crashes for his folks, but I suspect in reality he’s barely getting down to his reserve tanks in terms of the amount of energy he needs to burn off to really crash. I’m sure there’s some kind of grand adventure being played out in his vivid imagination as he winds this way and that among the tables and chairs and people scattered throughout the room, but it all looks totally randomized from an observer’s vantage point. But he’s sure stinking cute as he does it.

My son does a lot of running around these days too. He and Miles have that in common. But unlike Miles’ utterly spontaneous adventures, Josiah’s running is a bit more focused. He may run the same route each time he goes, but he does have a plan. He knows how far he is going to run. He knows about how fast he is going to run. He knows the specific purpose of a given run. And if he’s not sure about any of that when he gets started, he can ask his coach, and he’ll give him the specifics he needs.

So then, what’s the difference between Miles and Josiah in their running? Josiah is running with a goal in mind. He knows there will soon be a race that will be timed and in which his personal performance can be a benefit to the rest of his cross country team’s goal of winning. He isn’t just running for fun, although he is enjoying it. He’s running to train himself so that he can win. And, if his meet last night is any indicator, his training is paying off. He ran his personal best time ever. The outcome of his effort is obvious. And, as his coach told me, “He’s only going to get better.”

When he was writing to the Corinthian believers, Paul gave them some encouragement to pursue their faith in Christ with purpose. Seeking to live out and advance the Gospel is not something to be done halfheartedly. There is a prize to be won, and it takes effort and intentionality to win it. “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown..”

The connection between this and the kind of life of faith Paul was advocating for them to live was obvious, but he goes on to make it explicit. “So I do not run like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

If you are following Jesus, that’s not something to be done haphazardly and merely how you feel like doing it on a given day. The reason for this is that nothing about the Christian life comes naturally to believers. God’s kingdom does not operate on principles that are inherent to us. Because of the brokenness of sin in us, it takes focus and intentionality to stay on the path of Christ. It takes receiving and leaning into the help His Spirit within us provides.

It takes discipline – that is, practicing the spiritual disciplines. By these practices such as prayer, engaging with the Scriptures, worship, serving others, silence and solitude, celebration, sacrificial generosity, and so on, we train our minds and hearts to go first in the direction of God’s kingdom in their output. The human body’s natural state is not to be able to run very far very fast. But with some work and intentionality, we can change that. Our natural spiritual state is not to reflect the virtues and values of God’s kingdom. But with some work and intentionality, we can change that.

We do this so that we can win the prize of life. We do it so that we don’t find ourselves disqualified because for all of our efforts to encourage others in that direction, we never actually started moving ourselves. Now, none of this comes particularly easily, but neither does running a race. Jesus Himself assured us that there would be challenges and persecutions along the way. But He also assured us we would never face any of them alone. He also assured us that in Him, our victory is already secured. When we run after God’s kingdom, we run with the knowledge that we have already won. We are simply living out our victory that He achieved.

So then, if you are following Jesus, don’t make that some halfhearted aim. Follow Jesus. Give it your all. Train hard each and every day. Pray without ceasing. Engage with the Scriptures faithfully and intentionally. Stay deeply connected to a body of Christ. Practice sacrificial generosity with eagerness. Worship with joyfulness. Take intentional times of silence and solitude to listen to the Lord. Do not run aimlessly, but discipline your body and bring it under strict control. There is a prize to be won and in Christ it can be yours.