Playing Horse

Timothy 2-Part 3
 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.  2 Timothy 2:5 NLT
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. KJV



LET IT GLOW

I wasn't an atheletic person growing up. The only sports I participated in, beside bike riding, and dodge ball at school, was playing horse with a basketball in the backyard with my older brother. He had a netless goal attatched to the back of our garage. In case you don't know how to play horse, I'll explain quickly. When one person makes the goal, the next person has to stand in the exact same place and shoot the ball in the same manner. If they miss, they get a letter, which eventually spells "horse." Since he was seven years older than I am, I had to practice in order to hold my own. My two best shots were made up close, almost under the rim on the right side, and back at an angle on the left side. The further back from the goal, the less likely I was to sink the ball. Of course, that was when I had to throw it "granny style" just to hit the garage. Sometimes I would actually win, if my brother missed his long shots. I never won any crowns or ribbons for my victory, though.

The third example Paul used to illustrate the life of a good minister/Christian is that of an athlete. He used
wrestling, boxing, running, and exercising. We know that the Greeks and Romans were enthusiastic about sports, because the Olympic and Isthmian Games were important events to them. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul urged Timothy to exercise like an athlete.

I found several scriptures using the word crown:
a corruptible crown-1 Cor. 9:25;
a crown of rejoicing-1 Thess. 2:19;
a crown of righteousness-2 Tim.4:8;
a crown of life-James 1:12, Rev. 2:10;
a crown of glory-1 Peter 5:4;
crowns of gold-Rev.4:4;
golden crown-Rev.14:14;
Jesus crowned with glory and honor-Ps. 8:5, Heb. 2:9;
crowned with loving kindness-Ps. 103:4;
24 elders will  cast their crowns before the throne-Rev. 4:10.

According to Thayer's Lexicon, crowned in verse 5 refers to encircle with a crown; is the victor in a contest.

Do I crown Jesus as king in my life?


LET IT GROW

Wiersbe said in his book Be Faithful: 

Paul admonished Timothy to obey the rules. A person who strives as an athlete to win a game and get a crown must be careful to obey all the rules of the game. The Greek athlete had to be a citizen of his nation,  with a good reputation, and follow specific standards. If not, then he was disqualified. He could loose his crown if it was found out after winning.
Paul was telling Timothy,"The important thing is that you obey the Word of God, no matter what people may say. You are not running the race to please people or to get fame. You are running to please Jesus Christ."

Charles Swindoll said:

Many people define "grace" as the absence of rules. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Word of God is, among other things, a rule book, a guide for life. The Bible contains principles requiring discernment to apply, but it also contains specific precepts--hard-and- fast rules--that must be obeyed without question.

• Abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3).
• Be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32).
• Husbands, love your wives (Col. 3:19).
• Love one another (John 13:34).

Jesus, the Giver of grace, said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). This isn't legalism: this is how we stay on course throughout the journey.


LET IT GLOW

Obey God's Word.

Keep running the race to please Jesus.