JUST THINKING: Shadow Boxing Believers

      I think most of you know that I am quite a fan of sports. I have been involved with multiple athletic events since I was nine. I was just thinking about the apostle Paul’s frequent references to sporting events. He often spoke of running the race and finishing the course. He even alluded to the sport of boxing.

The Believer Should Train for Service

         As he addressed the church at Corinth, Paul shared multiple reasons why believers should be prepared to purposefully and effectively be witnesses for the cause of Christ. Just as our Lord used parables to teach essential lessons, Paul used analogies to do the same.

      Training is essential to performance. A weightlifter daily exercises so he can perform. Football, basketball, soccer and volleyball players all train so they can do their part to help the teams accomplish the goal of winning. The apostle wasn’t actually training for a prize fight in a boxing ring, but he was training for a purpose. Believers, who are to be Christ’s witnesses, should also train with purpose.

Use Your Spiritual Gifts

         Every believer in Jesus Christ has been equipped to serve as the Lord desires. Too often, though, many do not want to put in the effort to accomplish what He wants. Many are like the young man who signed up to play football. On the first day, team and individual photos of the players in their game uniforms were taken. After the photo session, the coach told them to take off the game uniforms and put on their practice uniforms. Everyone did as instructed except for one. The young man didn’t actually want to play for fear of injury — he just wanted to have his photo made as a teammate.

      Each believer has been equipped to serve the Lord, but too many just want to be on the team and never actually use their gifts for the purpose the Holy Spirit intended. They are content to just “be part of the team,” but do not intend to actually be witnesses to others about what Christ has done for them.

Preparing and Performing with Purpose

         Paul wrote the church at Philippi, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14 NIV). “Press” and “strain” are action words that indicate extreme effort. Like our Lord, Paul didn’t practice what he preached — he preached what he practiced.

Shadow Boxing is Not the Goal

         Every good boxer has done his share of shadowboxing. Swinging, punching and dodging with no opponent in sight. They may spend hours before a mirror honing their skills, but if they never step in the ring with another boxer, all that practice is for naught.

      Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air (shadow boxing). No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (I Cor. 9:25-27).

      As followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, may we believers who are living in these last days study, get into God’s Word for a purpose and then may we get into the battle for truth as we get into the game and tell others about the Savior who died that they may live.