May 26, 2021
Sharing from the congregation – David Petty
Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
—1 Corinthians 9:25-27
We don’t know, of course, but it’s possible that the apostle Paul was a big sports fan. Certainly there are many sports metaphors in his letters. He spent a year and a half during his second missionary journey in the city of Corinth, which was the site of the Istmean games, at that time second in importance only to the Olympics. Living in Corinth and having no interest in the games would have been as difficult as living in Knoxville and being uninterested in U. T. football.
So while Paul never used the following illustration, I believe he would agree with it. Serious athletes usually don’t just take it easy during the “off season;” they continue at least some level exercise throughout. Those who fail to that — either because of injury or some other legitimate reason, or because of laziness — find that they are in trouble when competition starts again. But If they really want to be back in the game, they make that difficult effort to get back in shape. Those who really want to play say that it is worth the pain.
This is where we are, I think, as a congregation. Mostly through no fault of our own, St Mark finds itself out of practice. Now, in order to do the things we want to do, we have to face the prospect of getting back in shape as a congregation. It isn’t going to be easy. Presumably, though, it’s worth the pain.
How to we find the strength to get going again? The scriptural answer, of course, is that our strength comes from the Lord. “The Lord is the strength of his people,” says Psalm 28:8. Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” “Whoever serves,” says Peter in his first epistle, “must do so with the strength that the Lord supplies” (4:11). As always, prayer helps to get in touch with that strength.
Gracefully submitted,
David Petty