Playing by the Rules

[Ncdataman]

Playing by the Rules

"Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win."

— 1 Corinthians 9:24


If you participate in an athletic event, you must play by the rules. You can't make your own. You can't say, "If I hit the ball eight feet, then that is a home run. These are my rules." That is not the way it works.

You must play by the rules. Even if you hit the ball out of the park, you still must cross and touch every single base. If you miss one base, that home run doesn't count, and you are disqualified.

For example, if you want to compete in track and field in the Olympics, then you must play by the rules. One rule is that athletes are prohibited from using drugs like steroids to enhance their performance. We remember the 1988 Summer Olympics when Carl Lewis won the gold medal in the 100 meters because Ben Johnson was disqualified for steroid use. Johnson didn't play by the rules.

In the same way, this race of life we are running has a rulebook. It is called the Bible. It is not for us to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we like.

You can't say, "I like certain truths in the Bible. I like the part about God's love and forgiveness. But this part about denying yourself and taking up the cross . . . that must not be in the original language. I don't believe it." You can't do that.

If you are going to run this race, and run to win, then you must play the rules that God has given to you in Scripture. We must play by the rules, or we will be disqualified.


reprinted from Harvest

 

[mounty]

Amazing post brother, thanks for posting this

God Bless and Much Love xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

 

[abigya]

In the same way, this race of life we are running has a rulebook. It is called the Bible. It is not for us to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we like.

How very true...

2 Timothy 2: 4-6
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hard–working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.


it also good to consider that our race is against our selves " the old us" , we race to win the old self .... race against our old us to make a better us "Christ like", where the final line or goal is Jesus Christ


Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.



may the Lord help us continue the race with out ceasing...

Hebrew 12:1-3
1 ¶ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

in Christ

abigya