7月7日

標　　題：不能壞的冠冕

經　　節：豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑，但得獎賞的只有一人？你們也當這樣跑，好叫你們得著獎賞。凡較力爭勝的，諸事都有節制，他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕；我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。（哥林多前書九章24∼25節）

運動員通常比普通人更奮力發展自己的潛能。他們努力控制自己的肉體與意志力，盼能一鳴驚人，得到獎賞。當其他人回家休息，運動員繼續鍛煉自己。當其他人體貼肉體，享受安舒的時候，運動員則強迫自己直至忍耐的極限。有些人只要表現平庸就心滿意足，然而運動員願為卓越的表現付出任何代價。保羅說，雖然運動員付上最大的努力以得成功，但是他們的成就與獎賞終究被人遺忘。即使是最偉大的運動員，其成就也不會持續到永恆。

倘若運動員願為那會朽壞的獎賞竭盡全力，那麼基督徒願為那不朽壞的獎賞，付上多少代價呢？倘若運動員肯日復一日、為榮耀與他人的讚賞而努力不懈，那麼基督徒得付上多少努力，才能換得恩主一聲嘉許：「做得好」？你是否努力讓自己的身體也能榮耀神？你是否鍛煉自己以神的思想為思想，而不是認同世人的思想？你是否操練自己的禱告生活？你是否在其他人睡覺時，仍然為人代禱？你是否勤奮讀經，預備好面對當前生活的挑戰？你是否裝備自己廣傳福音，隨時可以分享信心？身為基督徒，你是否預備好要得到那不朽壞的冠冕？

An Imperishable Crown

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. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

Athletes are willing to push themselves harder and longer and farther than anyone else. They strive to bring their bodies and minds completely under control so that they excel and receive a prize. Others go home to relax, but athletes continue to train. While most people protect themselves from any form of discomfort, athletes push themselves to the limits of their endurance. While some remain satisfied with mediocre performance, athletes pay any price for excellence. Paul said that despite their most valiant efforts, the athletes’ successes and prizes are eventually forgotten. Even the greatest athletic achievements have not affected eternity.

If an athlete can be motivated to make incredible sacrifices for a perishable reward, how much more ought Christians to strive for an imperishable one? If an athlete will labor day after day in order to receive glory from others, how much harder ought Christians to work for the “well done” of their Master? Are you striving to bring your body into subjection for the glory of God? Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts of the world? Are you disciplining your life in prayer? When others are sleeping, are you interceding? Have you studied God’s word so diligently that you are prepared to find answers to the challenges you face? Have you equipped yourself in evangelism so that you are ready to share your faith? Have you prepared yourself as a Christian in order to qualify for the imperishable crown that awaits you?