Day 227

2 Chronicles 2:1-5:1, 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13, Psalms 97:1-12

I can remember my time at university when I probably didn’t quite live the life that I should have done. I made a great number of good friends but university offers a great number of excesses and myself and friends could be found clubbing most weeks.

I had the philosophy that by showing Christians could have fun, I would be spreading the Gospel – my application of the all things to all men philosophy. Paul on the other hand believes that integrity is what underpins his idea of all things to all people. “Don’t run aimlessly” he says, stick with the Gospel. He quickly points them to the warnings from the history of Israel so that they wouldn’t fall into the same trap.

As well as my memories of university, these readings also make me think much further back to school and athletics lessons. Running was never my strong point (in fact sport wasn’t really my strong point). Even though we were not so good at running they still made us do hurdles and relay, that just complicated things. Relay was a very specific skill and obstacles and people just got in the way. One of Paul’s key analogies in running the race and makings sure we do it well.  We also see in the Old Testament reading the way that Solomon has taken the baton from David to continue the race.

More importantly though, running of any kind requires dedication, in the training and in the race itself. Solomon is really showing that dedication, the effort that he is putting into building the temple.

When we are dedicated to the race that we are running for Christ then we run it with integrity. It is when we do this that people see the true Gospel message, not through my interpretation of “all things…”. Will your integrity shine out today.