Day 26 - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Terrie's Comments:
Stay focused on Jesus.  Faith involves discipline.  It is a choice to make your body fall in line with the word of God.  It is a choice to discipline yourself to actively pursue a relationship with Jesus daily.  It is a choice to believe that what God's word says is more true than the caos that surrounds your daily life and to believe that God is taking care of you.  We run with purpose in every step... I love that image.  Just like the athletes that train for the olympics have purpose in everything they do.  We run to win an eternal prize... It is so worth it!!  Keep on running my friends... run to win!

Tori's Comments:

I looked up a shadowboxing video because I didn't know what it was. It looked rather funny to me, boxing no one, and I suppose that shows the whole pointlessness of us trying to be Christians but not giving our all. We need to keep our guard up and stay in the Word. :)

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 25 - 1 Corinthians 9:13-23

13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,[a] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Tori's Comments:

"a slave to all people"
Building off of yesterday...you are in a state of humility... Yes, I have opinions, but this life is not about me. Jesus Himself has served as a model to this. To love is to constantly think about others, build them up, and love them.

Terrie's Comments:
"trying to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."  

This part of today's passage is reassuring to me that no matter what Paul did he didn't save everyone.  We should do all we can to spread the Good News and to not become a stumbling block on people's way to Jesus but we should not feel responsible or condemned when people are not saved yet.  That is not our job, it is only the Holy Spirit that can bring them to Jesus.  We are just vessels that are used by God as we allow Him to flow through us.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 24 - 1 Corinthians 9:1-12

9 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.

Terrie's Comments:
Every part of God's work is important.  We each have a part to play.  Consider that even if you lead someone to Christ there were workers who had a part in it both before that happened and there will continue to be workers to disciple them and help bring them to maturity after it happens.  We all work together and we all have the same goal... to further the kingdom of Jesus Christ.  

I love verse 12 "We would rather put up with anything that be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ".  That is something to think about for sure... 

Tori's Comments:

This makes me think of missionaries who support themselves through working. It is more of a personal connection to me, because that is what I plan to do myself.  I was originally going to go with a mission board, but the idea of sucking funds from other missionaries when I could easily support myself didn't sit right with me.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!