1 Corinthians 9:25-26, Not As One That Beateth the Air

1 Corinthians 9:25-26 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

From the illustration in verse 25, the Apostle Paul now gives the example of a boxer. He has to make his punches count striking winning blows on the opponent and not waste his energy missing the target of sin!

Poole observed well, “I give you no other counsel than I myself take; I endeavour so to live, so in all things to behave myself, as I may not be at uncertainties whether I please God by my actions, or shall get to heaven, yea or not. I am a fellow soldier with you, fighting against sin; I make it my great business, not so to fight, so to resist sin, as if I did beat the air; that is, get no more fruit, profit, or advantage by it, than if I threw stones against the wind, or with a staff did beat the air. It is not every running, or every fighting, that will bring a man to heaven; it must be a running with all our might, and continuing our motion till we come to the end of our race; a fighting with all our might, and that against all sin.”

May the Lord help His servants to be watchful and vigilant, to be profitable for the Lord. Amen.