3 [9:24]Know you not that those who run in the race all indeed run, but one takes the prize. So run that you may obtain. [9:25]And every one that contends in the games is temperate in all things, they indeed to obtain a perishable crown, we an imperishable. [9:26]I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, and so strike, not as one who beats the air; [9:27]but I brow-beat my body, and bring it into subjection, lest having preached to others I should myself be a reprobate. 4 [10:1]For I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, [10:2]and all were baptized to Moses by the cloud and by the sea, [10:3]and all eat the same spiritual food, [10:4]and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ; [10:5]but with many of them God was not pleased; for they were destroyed in the wilderness. [10:6]But these things are examples for us, that we should not desire evil things, as they did. [10:7]Neither be idolaters, as some of them were, as it is written; The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [10:8]Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them did and fell in one day twenty-three thousand. [10:9]Neither let us try Christ, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents. [10:10]Neither do you complain as some of them complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. [10:11]All these things happened to them as examples, and are recorded for our admonition on whom the ends of the ages have come; [10:12]so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. [10:13]For no trial has befallen you but what is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial will order the event, that you may be able to endure. 5 [10:14]Wherefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. [10:15]I speak as to wise men; judge what I say. [10:16]The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation of the body of Christ? [10:17]For we, being many, are one bread, one body; for we all partake of the one bread. [10:18]Consider Israel after the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers of the altar? [10:19]What then do I say? that an idol sacrifice is any thing, or that an idol is any thing? [10:20]But what the gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not wish you to be partakers with demons. [10:21]You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons; you cannot partake at the Lord's table and the table of demons. [10:22]Do we provoke the Lord to anger? Are we stronger than he?