Thurs., 9/4/14 Devotion (1 Cor. 9:24)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 9:24, where the Apostle Paul wrote these words:

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."

Competition in life, and even in the realm of faith is good. True Christians must run against their flesh, the devil, the world, all religious hypocrites and idolaters, and everything else that is contrary to sound doctrine. Not only must we run, but we must win, too. There is no room for losing or letting up; and second place renders no reward.

Let us give our church lives everything we have got (to give). Everything de-pends on it. Let us love Christ and His gospel of grace.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The world is full of poor professors [of religion] without reality. How few are there who walk in beauty and glory!" --John Owen, in, "The Mortification of Sin"]