The Joy of Winning the Prize

Paul's favorite athletic metaphor is that of a race. He declared to the Ephesians elders,"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Reminding the Corinthians of the dedicated athletes who competed in the games the apostle wrote "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." Paul expressed his fear that he might be running, or had run, in vain in Galatians 2:2, but we know Paul didn't run in vain. At the end of his life he wrote "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..." (II Timothy 4:7). This Sunday, it is that metaphor of the Christian Life as a race, expressed in the familiar fourteenth verse of Philippians 3 that we will be focusing on. The title of the message is The Joy of Winning the Prize. God wants us to finish our course that He has given to us with joy.