Olympic Christians

1 Corinthians 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (NIV)

Good morning ladies,

Just in case you didn’t know, the Winter Olympics started on Friday.

The best athletes from around the world are competing to earn medals that in some cases can be parleyed into money and a career. But in many cases the Olympics themselves appear to be the goal.

Last night was pairs figure skating and the commentator shared the sacrifices that one of the male skaters had made to be able to be there. He had worked every type of odd job and was seriously in debit, but he was not willing to quit training because he had his eye on his dream of going to the Olympics.

The night before, Apolo Anton Ohno the American speed skater, said in an interview that he trained for two hours four times a day to get ready for this event. Each night when he went to bed he asked himself if had he done everything he could that day to reach his goal.

That’s dedication and the results are apparent.

These athletes can do amazing things.

So I couldn’t help but wonder what could we, as Christians, do if we were willing to train that hard?

If we were willing to read our Bible and pray for hours each day, if we really loved others more than ourselves, if we controlled our thoughts and our tongues, if we were willing to sacrifice anything to reach the world with the Gospel, if our sole purpose and reason for being was to live in obedience to Christ, if every night before we went to sleep we thought, “Dear Lord, have I done everything I can today to bring You glory?”

Paul often used race analogies to explain the Christian life. He knew what it was like to train for God. And look what he accomplished.

Tonight, when you watch the Olympics, go ahead be inspired, but not to become a better skier, be inspired to become a better Christian.

And resolve to go into training.

Love,
Jill