1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5

New King James Version

Striving for a Crown

²⁴Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ^(A)Run in such a way that you may ^[a]obtain it. ²⁵And everyone who competes for the prize ^[b]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for ^(B)an imperishable crown. ²⁶Therefore I run thus: ^(C)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷^(D)But I discipline my body and ^(E)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become ^(F)disqualified.

Old Testament Examples

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under ^(G)the cloud, all passed through ^(H)the sea, ²all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³all ate the same ^(I)spiritual food, ⁴and all drank the same ^(J)spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies ^(K)were scattered in the wilderness.

Footnotes

1 Corinthians 9:24 win
1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control

Hebrews 12:1-4

New King James Version

The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, ^(A)let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and ^(B)let us run ^(C)with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]finisher of our faith, ^(D)who for the joy that was set before Him ^(E)endured the cross, despising the shame, and ^(F)has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God^(G)

³^(H)For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, ^(I)lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴^(J)You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

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