7月7日
标 题：不能坏的冠冕
经 节：岂不知在场上赛跑的都跑，但得奖赏的只有一人？你们也当这样跑，好叫你们得着奖赏。凡较力争胜的，诸事都有节制，他们不过是要得能坏的冠冕；我们却是要得不能坏的冠冕。（哥林多前书九章24～25节）
运动员通常比普通人更奋力发展自己的潜能。他们努力控制自己的肉体与意志力，盼能一鸣惊人，得到奖赏。当其他人回家休息，运动员继续锻炼自己。当其他人体贴肉体，享受安舒的时候，运动员则强迫自己直至忍耐的极限。有些人只要表现平庸就心满意足，然而运动员愿为卓越的表现付出任何代价。保罗说，虽然运动员付上最大的努力以得成功，但是他们的成就与奖赏终究被人遗忘。即使是最伟大的运动员，其成就也不会持续到永恒。
倘若运动员愿为那会朽坏的奖赏竭尽全力，那么基督徒愿为那不朽坏的奖赏，付上多少代价呢？倘若运动员肯日复一日、为荣耀与他人的赞赏而努力不懈，那么基督徒得付上多少努力，才能换得恩主一声嘉许：“做得好”？你是否努力让自己的身体也能荣耀神？你是否锻炼自己以神的思想为思想，而不是认同世人的思想？你是否操练自己的祷告生活？你是否在其他人睡觉时，仍然为人代祷？你是否勤奋读经，预备好面对当前生活的挑战？你是否装备自己广传福音，随时可以分享信心？身为基督徒，你是否预备好要得到那不朽坏的冠冕？
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?
