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Punch Through!

Sam Stringer

Aug 6, 2024

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. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I
discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I have never been in an all-out fist fight, but when I was a boy, my dad taught me that if I ever did find myself in one that I
couldn’t get out of, to make sure that I “punched through.” Many people, not knowing how to throw a punch, will pull the
punch upon contact, and if you’re going to do something to at least try stopping a fight, you want to punch to the other side
of the point of contact. I am sure this sounds a bit violent as I talk like this, but it’s still applicable and maybe you needed this
bit of punching information, too (LOL).

Paul actually uses language very much like what I just told you, though, when he speaks about living for Christ and making an
impact. There’s a parallel through all of these analogies he gives , which is the issue of following through and doing things like
you mean it. It’s so easy for us to give half-hearted efforts in all sorts of areas, but certainly as it pertains to serving the Lord.
Paul gives the challenge that we “run in such a way that you may obtain it.” Don’t just run but run like you’re trying to win.
There is a qualitative difference between someone out on a run and someone running in a race, isn’t there? Perhaps we are
running, we’re just not running to win because we forgot why were running. Like Martha in the kitchen, we’re frustrated and
we’re banging around on the pots and pans while Mary’s in the other room at the feet of Jesus. We’re serving in our own
ways, at our own directions, but we’re forgetting why we do it or who we’re doing it for. Run in such a way that you may
obtain the prize.

Remember the type of prize you’re after, too. Paul says, “they do it to obtain an imperishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.” What would a perishable crown look like in Christianity? It could look like the praise of others, being
tapped on the shoulder for positions of power, general recognition, financial gain, even your own impression of yourself.
Imperishable crowns are summed up in the praise of God for the glory of God, the furtherance of His work in this world, the
betterment of others whether or not we are recognized for our part in it. Is the Gospel going forward even if it’s to my own
detriment? A dying soldier may find solace in the fact that his sacrifice was instrumental in preserving his country’s freedoms;
so too, a Christian must see beyond their wounds and look at the whole family of God. We need to take a hard look at what
kind of crowns we are after, because that will translate into the experience we’re having, too. If it’s for Jesus, you can rest
that He’ll use it; but if it’s for your own praise, and you don’t get it, how can I put this? You’re going to be ticked! Who is the
primary intended recipient of the efforts you are giving in your faith?

Paul further says, “I run thus: not with uncertainty.” Do you know why you’re doing all of this Christian stuff? Do you believe
in the outcome of what you’re doing? Those who forget that they’re in a race, or what they’re racing for, are sure to become
uncertain and more than likely insecure.

Paul goes on with another illustration. “Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” This is where the punch-through part hits
home the most. When they boxed in those early days, those Olympic times, they didn’t box with padded gloves like today.
They had these metallic studded thingies wrapped over their knuckles that hurt really bad and could basically kill someone.
When you fought like this, you didn’t fight haphazardly. Now, when they trained, they might “shadow box,” beating at the
air. Paul is telling us that he doesn’t shadow box with the Gospel, he hits, and when he makes contact, he’s going for the win.

Lastly, Paul tells us that “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be disqualified.” This may be the hardest part of it all: practicing what we preach. Making ourselves live the very
lessons we are calling other people to put into practice. “Do this, don’t do that.” So easy to say, so hard to do, because while
we love to make impressions, following through with the character we project is way harder than posturing. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
speaks about the need to discipline ourselves for godliness. Gymnazo, the Greek word for discipline, is where we get the
English word gymnasium. We are called to train ourselves to be submissive servants of God and not simply to educate
ourselves into being pretty parrots with churchy vocabularies. We all have to wrestle with that, don’t we?

Are you brave enough today to look at yourself in the mirror and to tell that person how it’s going to be? Don’t let your life be
run by your emotions; let Jesus Christ and the Bible be your coach in the gym today. Whether or not that’s been the case,
shake it off and hit the “gym” fresh today with the proper mindset. Be brave. Be Blessed.

Sam Stringer

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
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