1 Corinthians 9:24

Paul Gives Up His Rights As An Apostle

²³ And I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings along with you. ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours! ²⁵ Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].

Do You Not Know

Galatians 2:2

I went up [to Jerusalem] because of a [divine] revelation, and I put before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so in private before those of reputation, for fear that I might be running or had run [the course of my ministry] in vain.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:7

You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth?

Philippians 2:16

holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result.

Psalm 19:5

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the strong, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to those of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of ability; but time and chance overtake them all.

Jeremiah 12:5

[The Lord rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience, saying] “If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out,
Then how can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure],
Then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan?

Hosea 12:10

I have also spoken to [you through] the prophets,
And I gave [them] many visions [to make My will known],
And through the prophets I gave parables [to appeal to your sense of right and wrong].

1 Corinthians 9:26

Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing].

Colossians 2:18

Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error].

James 1:12

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming quickly. Hold tight what you have, so that no one will take your crown [by leading you to renounce the faith].