Please read 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is an incredibly familiar passage of scripture and it is often called the love chapter. I'm sure if you've been to a wedding you've heard this passage read.
Believe it or not, Paul did not write this passage for the Corinthians to use in their wedding ceremonies. Paul wrote this letter because the church at Corinth was a screwed up, divided community living in the midst of extreme sin and paganism. In the midst of all this Paul was teaching them the most excellent way. Love.
Paul wanted the church at Corinth to know, and God wants you to know, why love is supreme. Below are some reasons why love is supreme that can be found in the thirteen verses of the chapter.
1) Love is essential for our lives to have meaning.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
These are strong words. All the gifts of the Spirit listed in the previous chapter are pointless without love. Giving to the poor is pointless without love. Good things done without love are without purpose.
So, we must ask, "What is love?" (If you said 'baby don't hurt me' in your head you're not alone. That song's stuck in my head now, too.)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Do things in that definition of love and you will leave a Christ-like legacy. Your life will have immense meaning.
2) Spiritual gifts will fade but love remains for eternity.
"Love never fails (ends). But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:8-12
The gifts of the Spirit point to the Almighty God. They point to Yahew and His character. When we see God, the three in one, face to face we will not need the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts act as a mirror. Why would we look at a reflection of God when we will have the ability to look at Him and His glory face to face? We won't.
Love, however, is an attribute of God. 1 John tells us that God is love. That doesn't mean that God is only love, but that God is the definition of love. He is love and He is eternal, so love is eternal. The gifts of the Spirit will fade but love remains for eternity.
3) Love is superior to faith and hope.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(I'm stealing the next to points from my study Bible and a Bible Gateway commentary.) Faith is the foundation and content of God's message. Hope is our attitude and focus as Christians. Love is the action that emanates from our hope and faith.
In heaven faith will be swallowed up in actual sight. Hope will be swallowed up by enjoyment. But love will not pass, rather our love will be made perfect.
Love is supreme. Love is the most excellent way. It will never fade. It makes everything we do have meaning. It will one day be made perfect in us. And the bottom line is "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. Live your life in the most excellent way. Spread the love given to you by God today.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Spiritual Gifts
Read 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
In this chapter the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Corinth to explain about spiritual gifts. The church at Corinth had many questions and misunderstandings about spiritual gifts. As a life-long Baptist, I can easily say that I have many questions and much to learn about spiritual gifts.
Below are a few things we can know about spiritual gifts from this chapter.
1) We all have at least one spiritual gift.
"All these (spiritual gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines." 1 Corinthians 12:11
"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body... whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free... and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" 1 Corinthians 12:13
I believe that we all have the complete indwelling of the Holy Spirit from the moment of conversion. We at that moment were baptized into one body of believers and given the one Spirit to drink. Because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we will have a manifestation of the Holy Spirit of some kind. What manifestation and to what degree will vary, but we all have some gift/gifts of the Spirit. No Christian can say that they don't have a gift. One could say they aren't aware of a gift or aren't using a gift, but I believe all Christians have a gift of the Spirit.
2) All gifts of the Spirit are important, likewise all those with the gifts are important to the body of Christ.
"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be/ If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would they body be? As is is, there are many parts, but one body." 1 Corinthians 12:14-20
The metaphor is easy to see in this passage. Don't let yourself be tricked into thinking that you are not important of your local church or the Church universal. You are essential and so is everyone else. Don't think of yourself too lowly or too highly. You are essential but not self-sufficient.
3) The purpose of Spiritual gifts.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 1 Corinthians 12:7
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11
Spiritual gifts are given for the common good and the glory of God. When using your gift of the Spirit you should ask. "Is this for the good of others or just me?" "Does this glorify God or me?" Asking these questions will help you faithfully administer God's grace in the form granted you to do so.
Gifts of the Spirit are also to highlight the diverse and wonderful character of our God.
In this chapter the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Corinth to explain about spiritual gifts. The church at Corinth had many questions and misunderstandings about spiritual gifts. As a life-long Baptist, I can easily say that I have many questions and much to learn about spiritual gifts.
Below are a few things we can know about spiritual gifts from this chapter.
1) We all have at least one spiritual gift.
"All these (spiritual gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines." 1 Corinthians 12:11
"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body... whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free... and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" 1 Corinthians 12:13
I believe that we all have the complete indwelling of the Holy Spirit from the moment of conversion. We at that moment were baptized into one body of believers and given the one Spirit to drink. Because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we will have a manifestation of the Holy Spirit of some kind. What manifestation and to what degree will vary, but we all have some gift/gifts of the Spirit. No Christian can say that they don't have a gift. One could say they aren't aware of a gift or aren't using a gift, but I believe all Christians have a gift of the Spirit.
2) All gifts of the Spirit are important, likewise all those with the gifts are important to the body of Christ.
"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be/ If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would they body be? As is is, there are many parts, but one body." 1 Corinthians 12:14-20
The metaphor is easy to see in this passage. Don't let yourself be tricked into thinking that you are not important of your local church or the Church universal. You are essential and so is everyone else. Don't think of yourself too lowly or too highly. You are essential but not self-sufficient.
3) The purpose of Spiritual gifts.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 1 Corinthians 12:7
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11
Spiritual gifts are given for the common good and the glory of God. When using your gift of the Spirit you should ask. "Is this for the good of others or just me?" "Does this glorify God or me?" Asking these questions will help you faithfully administer God's grace in the form granted you to do so.
Gifts of the Spirit are also to highlight the diverse and wonderful character of our God.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Christmas Letter 2013
We did not send out a Christmas letter this year (Matt thought we weren't at that life stage yet and then we started getting cards from our friends who are our age), so we are writing our letter online.
2013 was a monumental year for us. We had so many exciting changes. On January 17th Matt proposed (Christine said 'yes') and on August 17th we were married in front of our friends and family. We've reflected on that day and are amazed at how lucky we are and how much our friends and family love us This year we also moved into a new home in Waverly. The house is very nice, perfect for our needs and our landlord is the best. We are learning to live with each other. It has been better than great, but we are still learning to care about each other's needs before our own.
Besides getting married, Christine had a big year. In May she graduated from U.N.I. with a degree in biology. Just a few weeks later in June she began a 15 month accelerated program at Allen College to get her B.S.N. She is finishing up her second semester now and will graduate in August. Christine has also begun helping Matt lead the youth group at our church. On top of all that she is writing and directing our church's annual Easter passion mime. This is a huge undertaking and she is filling big shoes because our friend Becky Baker had done it every other year until moving to Wisconsin this year.
Matt is still working at KWAY radio in Waverly. He's on the air from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every weekday. He enjoys being on the air and getting involved in the community. He also continues to broadcast sporting events for the station. He does play-by-play for football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball; and has averaged doing 135 games a year. Matt also is working part time at our church. He is the youth leader. Matt is in his ninth year working with youth at the church, but with the departure of Jay Baker, the previous youth leader, he's accepted some more responsibility in that role.
Spiritually as a couple we've grown a lot this year. We've been actively involved in our church, Grace Baptist. We enjoy serving, doing Bible studies and anything else we're able to do. We each have our own personal studies, we do Bible reading together and through leading the youth and writing the mime we have been deeply rooted in the Word this year. We thank God for the ways He's lead us closer to Himself together as a couple.
We thank you also for all your love, support and friendship this year. Thank you for helping make 2013 the best year of our lives so far. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy 2014!
Love,
The Rays
Friday, December 13, 2013
Reverence
Please read 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
My generation is one of the champions of "come as you are." I myself prefer this notion of church going (mostly because I dress up all week long for work) and I also can be disgusted at the way some people make a church service into a fashion show.
That being said, many people dress nicely for church services because they want to bring their best before God. I find this to be completely unnecessary and commendable at the same time. I'm sure that God couldn't care less what clothes I'm wearing, but I think the attitude that the "Sunday best" folks bring to church can be better than we "come as you are" folks.
Here's what the "Sunday best" folks get right: reverence. I'm not saying that wearing jeans makes you irreverent, but I am saying that the attitude of the "Sunday best" folks errors on the side of reverence. Now, I can be completely reverent in a T-shirt, but what one wears isn't the point.
I'm not talking about clothes, or rather I'm not trying to talk about clothes. The point of this post is not to convince you to start wearing slacks and a button-up shirt. What I want is for you to examine how reverent you are in your church service.
There is something special, something different about our church services. For some reason we treat them differently than our potlucks or even Bible studies. Something about our communal worship is different and begs to be treated with reverence. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 the church at Corinth was not treating their church service and the Lord's Supper with reverence. For this reason Paul gives them instruction on public worship that error on the side of reverence.
So, we must ask ourselves: "How do we practice proper reverence in public worship?" I'm not instructing you necessarily to change your dress code. I'm not necessarily suggesting you should make a rule about hats in your local church. What I do want is for you personally to examine how much reverence you exercise in the public worship of our holy God.
Don't start rule making, and for goodness sake don't start judging the reverence of others unless you've been appointed leader of them. Examine yourself. Approach God with reverence today.
My generation is one of the champions of "come as you are." I myself prefer this notion of church going (mostly because I dress up all week long for work) and I also can be disgusted at the way some people make a church service into a fashion show.
That being said, many people dress nicely for church services because they want to bring their best before God. I find this to be completely unnecessary and commendable at the same time. I'm sure that God couldn't care less what clothes I'm wearing, but I think the attitude that the "Sunday best" folks bring to church can be better than we "come as you are" folks.
Here's what the "Sunday best" folks get right: reverence. I'm not saying that wearing jeans makes you irreverent, but I am saying that the attitude of the "Sunday best" folks errors on the side of reverence. Now, I can be completely reverent in a T-shirt, but what one wears isn't the point.
I'm not talking about clothes, or rather I'm not trying to talk about clothes. The point of this post is not to convince you to start wearing slacks and a button-up shirt. What I want is for you to examine how reverent you are in your church service.
There is something special, something different about our church services. For some reason we treat them differently than our potlucks or even Bible studies. Something about our communal worship is different and begs to be treated with reverence. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 the church at Corinth was not treating their church service and the Lord's Supper with reverence. For this reason Paul gives them instruction on public worship that error on the side of reverence.
So, we must ask ourselves: "How do we practice proper reverence in public worship?" I'm not instructing you necessarily to change your dress code. I'm not necessarily suggesting you should make a rule about hats in your local church. What I do want is for you personally to examine how much reverence you exercise in the public worship of our holy God.
Don't start rule making, and for goodness sake don't start judging the reverence of others unless you've been appointed leader of them. Examine yourself. Approach God with reverence today.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Decision Making 101
Take time to read 1 Corinthians chapter 10. It is full of some great truths. Truths about withstanding temptation, truths about why we continually preach the Gospel to even those who should have already been able to see God clearly, truths about how we need to be fully committed to God and truths about the believer's freedom.
I want to focus, as I did in a previous post, on the believer's freedom. I believe that 1 Corinthians chapter 10 has some great instructions on how to make decisions.
There are three questions we can expound from verses 23 through 33 that we should ask when making decisions.
1) Does it glorify God?
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
We should ask ourselves, "Does this glorify God?" If it does, then it may be worth doing. If it doesn't, then we shouldn't do it.
This is an amazing verse and an amazing questions because it presupposes that everything we do, from eating to preaching, from A to Z, can all be done for the glory of God. There is no action too small to honor God nor is there any task too lofty in which to honor the Almighty.
If we ask, "Does this glorify God?" our lives will be changed for the better. So often I ask, "Can I get away with this?" If I instead asked, "Does this glorify God?' my actions would no doubt be more in line with God and His ways.
2) Is this the most beneficial for the most people?
"Everything is permissible'... but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'... but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
We should ask, "Is this constructive?" "Is this beneficial?" "Is this for my good or the good of others?" How much better would our world be if people asked this question? This, like the question before it, can change the world.
We all want to hear, "Everything is permissible". The Corinthians made this saying famous. It was the Y.O.L.O. of the ancient world and it is somewhat true with Christian freedom. But just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Jesus could have had ten thousand angels wipe out those plotting to kill Him, but He, for the glory of God and to achieve the most good for the most people, endured the cross. We are to imitate Him.
3) Will this show others Christ?
"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God... even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:32-33
Ask, "Will this show others the love of Christ? Will it show others the Gospel? Or will this obscure the glory of the cross?" If we ask this question our lives will be changed and the lives of those around us may be changed.
We are called to live missionally. Do we live in a way to makes Jesus look attractive to an unbelieving world? Through actions and words we are to live missionally.
Don't think of yourself only. Don't be fooled by your prideful ego. Make good decisions by asking the questions above. 1) Does it glorify God? 2) Is this the most beneficial for the most people? 3) Will this show others Christ?
Make decisions based in this Biblical principle today.
I want to focus, as I did in a previous post, on the believer's freedom. I believe that 1 Corinthians chapter 10 has some great instructions on how to make decisions.
There are three questions we can expound from verses 23 through 33 that we should ask when making decisions.
1) Does it glorify God?
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
We should ask ourselves, "Does this glorify God?" If it does, then it may be worth doing. If it doesn't, then we shouldn't do it.
This is an amazing verse and an amazing questions because it presupposes that everything we do, from eating to preaching, from A to Z, can all be done for the glory of God. There is no action too small to honor God nor is there any task too lofty in which to honor the Almighty.
If we ask, "Does this glorify God?" our lives will be changed for the better. So often I ask, "Can I get away with this?" If I instead asked, "Does this glorify God?' my actions would no doubt be more in line with God and His ways.
2) Is this the most beneficial for the most people?
"Everything is permissible'... but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'... but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
We should ask, "Is this constructive?" "Is this beneficial?" "Is this for my good or the good of others?" How much better would our world be if people asked this question? This, like the question before it, can change the world.
We all want to hear, "Everything is permissible". The Corinthians made this saying famous. It was the Y.O.L.O. of the ancient world and it is somewhat true with Christian freedom. But just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Jesus could have had ten thousand angels wipe out those plotting to kill Him, but He, for the glory of God and to achieve the most good for the most people, endured the cross. We are to imitate Him.
3) Will this show others Christ?
"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God... even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:32-33
Ask, "Will this show others the love of Christ? Will it show others the Gospel? Or will this obscure the glory of the cross?" If we ask this question our lives will be changed and the lives of those around us may be changed.
We are called to live missionally. Do we live in a way to makes Jesus look attractive to an unbelieving world? Through actions and words we are to live missionally.
Don't think of yourself only. Don't be fooled by your prideful ego. Make good decisions by asking the questions above. 1) Does it glorify God? 2) Is this the most beneficial for the most people? 3) Will this show others Christ?
Make decisions based in this Biblical principle today.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Things I'm Thankful For
Thanksgiving is just a few days away. Here is a list of a few things I'm thankful for.
1) My new wife. I thank God for her everyday. She's amazing.
2) My family. They've always been there for me and as I get older I'm more thankful for them.
3) My new family. Christine's family has accepted me so warmly. I'm glad I found a beautiful woman with a fun family.
4) My church. Grace has helped me grow in so many ways. They are my family in Waverly.
5) My friends. There are too many to list and they are fantastic.
6) My job. I don't make a lot of money and I don't have a lot of benefits, but how many people get paid to do what they love to do?
7) My home. Our house is so perfect for us and our landlord is the best in town.
8) My community. Waverly has become home to me. It's hard to believe I've been here for the better part of eight and a half years. It has everything I need and it feels like a small town.
9) My health. I have been, and hopefully will continue to be, blessed with good health.
10) My Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. He is my rock and my redeemer. He's the reason that I live. He did what I cannot do and I owe it all to Him.
I have so much to be thankful for. Far more than ten things. I can't think of much more I could ask for.
That all being said, if I have numbers one through nine but don't have number ten, it is all a waste. Life, health, friends, family and work are all a supreme waste of time without Jesus. Why would I want to gain the whole world and lose my soul. In fact, I hope to be able to say if I lost all of the first nine but kept the tenth that I'd feel like a king.
If you don't have number ten in your life, you are missing out on true blessings. You are missing out on the real reason to be thankful. You're missing out on the one thing that will keep you thankful for eternity. If you don't have Jesus, you're life is a waste. But here's good news... Jesus is available to you today. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Ask Him to take the wheel of your life and watch how thankful you will be. You'll never regret it.
Happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful for the blessings in life and the Great Blesser today.
1) My new wife. I thank God for her everyday. She's amazing.
2) My family. They've always been there for me and as I get older I'm more thankful for them.
3) My new family. Christine's family has accepted me so warmly. I'm glad I found a beautiful woman with a fun family.
4) My church. Grace has helped me grow in so many ways. They are my family in Waverly.
5) My friends. There are too many to list and they are fantastic.
6) My job. I don't make a lot of money and I don't have a lot of benefits, but how many people get paid to do what they love to do?
7) My home. Our house is so perfect for us and our landlord is the best in town.
8) My community. Waverly has become home to me. It's hard to believe I've been here for the better part of eight and a half years. It has everything I need and it feels like a small town.
9) My health. I have been, and hopefully will continue to be, blessed with good health.
10) My Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. He is my rock and my redeemer. He's the reason that I live. He did what I cannot do and I owe it all to Him.
I have so much to be thankful for. Far more than ten things. I can't think of much more I could ask for.
That all being said, if I have numbers one through nine but don't have number ten, it is all a waste. Life, health, friends, family and work are all a supreme waste of time without Jesus. Why would I want to gain the whole world and lose my soul. In fact, I hope to be able to say if I lost all of the first nine but kept the tenth that I'd feel like a king.
If you don't have number ten in your life, you are missing out on true blessings. You are missing out on the real reason to be thankful. You're missing out on the one thing that will keep you thankful for eternity. If you don't have Jesus, you're life is a waste. But here's good news... Jesus is available to you today. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Ask Him to take the wheel of your life and watch how thankful you will be. You'll never regret it.
Happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful for the blessings in life and the Great Blesser today.
Monday, November 18, 2013
How to Run a Good Race
Take time to read 1 Corinthians chapter 9.
There is a lot of great information in this chapter. Please take time to read the chapter because reading it will do you much more good than reading this post. That being said, I want to look at a few ways to run a good race.
1) Realize that God doesn't need to use you.
Paul writes in this chapter about his compulsion to preach the Gospel. He also talks about the rights he had as an apostle that he chose not to use. These rights include things like being paid and having a wife. Why does Paul not use these rights? I think the answer is in verse 18.
"What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the Gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."
He says his reward for preaching without using his given rights is getting to preach without using his given rights. Why is this? I think it is because Paul intimately knows that God doesn't need him. Remember who witnessed to Paul? Jesus Christ Himself came to Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul knows that the Lord could do this with anyone, yet God chose to use the Apostle Paul. Paul knew that this honor was his reward.
When we realize that God doesn't need us we learn to enjoy the privilege of getting to be part of God's work on earth. God could do it without out us like a father taking his child to work He lets us participate in His wonderful work.
2) Be adaptable.
"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings." verses 22-2
We should not be so full of pride that we can't adapt to meet the needs and expectations of others. We should think of the joy of sharing the Gospel as being greater than the joy of serving ourselves. We should keep our eye on the reward of getting to participate in eternal glory.
Does this mean that we compromise our beliefs and therefore sin? By no means. This means that we compromise our own preferences to serve others and Jesus. If you are one to wear a t-shirt and flip-flops, you may need dress nicer if you want to serve and reach others. If you are ministering in the inner city, you might not want to wear a three-piece suit. Become all things to all men to save some.
3) Run with a purpose.
"Run in such a way as to get the prize. 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 man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." verses 24-27
Keep your eye on the prize, the knowledge of the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ and the ability to participate in His work on earth. Remember that you are running a race to win, so run with purpose. Train daily for this race with disciplines. Disciplines like prayer, scripture reading, meditation, worship, fasting, etc.
Running a good race is worth it. We all want to receive a crown that will last forever. We all want to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant... Come share in your master's happiness." In order to run a good race we need to remember: that God choses to use us, He doesn't need us; to be adaptable in order to serve God and not our selfish desires; and to run with purpose.
This life is a race. Run a good race. Like the great theologian Coach Herman Edward said, "You play to win the game!" You run to win the race. Run with purpose the course set before you today.
There is a lot of great information in this chapter. Please take time to read the chapter because reading it will do you much more good than reading this post. That being said, I want to look at a few ways to run a good race.
1) Realize that God doesn't need to use you.
Paul writes in this chapter about his compulsion to preach the Gospel. He also talks about the rights he had as an apostle that he chose not to use. These rights include things like being paid and having a wife. Why does Paul not use these rights? I think the answer is in verse 18.
"What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the Gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."
He says his reward for preaching without using his given rights is getting to preach without using his given rights. Why is this? I think it is because Paul intimately knows that God doesn't need him. Remember who witnessed to Paul? Jesus Christ Himself came to Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul knows that the Lord could do this with anyone, yet God chose to use the Apostle Paul. Paul knew that this honor was his reward.
When we realize that God doesn't need us we learn to enjoy the privilege of getting to be part of God's work on earth. God could do it without out us like a father taking his child to work He lets us participate in His wonderful work.
2) Be adaptable.
"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings." verses 22-2
We should not be so full of pride that we can't adapt to meet the needs and expectations of others. We should think of the joy of sharing the Gospel as being greater than the joy of serving ourselves. We should keep our eye on the reward of getting to participate in eternal glory.
Does this mean that we compromise our beliefs and therefore sin? By no means. This means that we compromise our own preferences to serve others and Jesus. If you are one to wear a t-shirt and flip-flops, you may need dress nicer if you want to serve and reach others. If you are ministering in the inner city, you might not want to wear a three-piece suit. Become all things to all men to save some.
3) Run with a purpose.
"Run in such a way as to get the prize. 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 man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." verses 24-27
Keep your eye on the prize, the knowledge of the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ and the ability to participate in His work on earth. Remember that you are running a race to win, so run with purpose. Train daily for this race with disciplines. Disciplines like prayer, scripture reading, meditation, worship, fasting, etc.
Running a good race is worth it. We all want to receive a crown that will last forever. We all want to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant... Come share in your master's happiness." In order to run a good race we need to remember: that God choses to use us, He doesn't need us; to be adaptable in order to serve God and not our selfish desires; and to run with purpose.
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