The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “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.

25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;

27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

If anyone who watches sports doubted that Clemson came to win, they were sadly mistaken. Both Clemson and Alabama entered the grass-laden arena with perfect records. Neither team had lost a game this year.

Sometimes I think we have gone overboard with sports. Then, I remember how the Apostle Paul, if not a fan, was certainly familiar with sporting activities that were plentiful in ancient Greece and Rome. Corinth sponsored the Isthmian games, second only to the Olympic games. What’s more, Paul advocated fairness in such activities. Note that he said that many could enter the race, but “only one receives the prize.”

Some years ago, some of our so-called institutions of learning came up with the idea that everyone should be given a reward, regardless of how well or how miserably the player was. The philosophy was that the child’s ego would be marred if a prize were not given to him. After all, he did his best, even if he came in last. There was nothing of this in Paul’s day! “Only one receives the prize.”

Nor was any entry in the games likely to win unless he was a true competitor, one who “struggled” (agonized, agonizomai in contending to win. The runner must also be self-controlled both in his training and in the race itself. He must then run with every intention of winning. Shadow-boxing will not do. A well-intentioned boxer meant to defeat his opponent. His body itself must be disciplined in eating the proper foods, in getting sufficient rest. Train! Train! Train!

One of Rose Marie’s nurses is an MMA (mixed-martial-arts) fighter. She told us that when she started to train, her trainer said, “I’m going to hit you in the face harder than any opponent will ever hit you.” And he did! The purpose (as distastful as it was) was to get her body ready to receive the punishment the sport involved.

Paul was not obsessed with sports. He was illustrating to the Corinthians that serious training must take place if one is to enter the spiritual arena, sharing the Gospel. We must know what the Bible teaches and embrace it without question. We must also know our “opponents,” that they are lost in sin and know little or nothing of what God’s Word teaches. So, instead of “blowing them away” with an avalanche of Scripture, we should demonstrate love and share gently the LORD’s message of salvation. We tell others how it should be done; we must also do what we teach; otherwise, we ourselves, will be disqualified. We’ve got to be something before we can do something in His Name. Just remember: our reward is imperishable!

We love and pray for you all,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”