1 Corinthians 9:24-10:6

New International Version

The Need for Self-Discipline

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?^(A) Run^(B) in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^(C) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{(D) 26} Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(E) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{(F) 27} No, I strike a blow to my body^(G) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^(H)

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant^(I) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud^(J) and that they all passed through the sea.^{(K) 2} They were all baptized into^(L) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food^{(M) 4} and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock^(N) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.^(O)

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples^(P) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.