July 23, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday, July 23.
Are you excited about the Summer Olympics? The opening ceremonies in Paris are just three days away. I'm a big Olympics fan. I had the chance to attend the winter games when they were in Salt Lake City in 2002. As a kid, I'd be glued to the TV set from start to finish.
Does the Bible mention the Olympics? The ancient games were held from about 800 B.C. to 400 AD. That encompasses much of the Old Testament and all of the New. But, although sports are mentioned in the Word of God, the Olympic Games are not.
One Bible writer mentioned sports more than any other - the Apostle Paul. We don't know if he witnessed the Olympics, but it's very probable that he attended the Isthmian Games. They took their name from the isthmus, or land bridge, in Corinth, and we know that Paul was in Corinth at least three times, and once for over two years. In any case, he seems to have had a vivid understanding of sports, and leaves for us these metaphors, these truths.
I Corinthians 9:24-25. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
