28 Days: Day 21

SCRIPTURE

• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) 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.

OBSERVATION

Those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize. No one would train so hard for so long without intending to win. Yet out of the large number of runners, only one wins.

A great difference between those races and the Christian "race" is that every Christian who will pay the price of careful training can win. We do not compete against each other but against the obstacles—practical, physical, and spiritual—that would hinder us. In a sense, every Christian runs his own race, enabling each one of us to be a winner in winning souls to Christ. Paul therefore counsels all believers to run in such a way that you may win, by setting aside anything that might hinder the reception of the gospel.

Holding tightly to liberties and rights is a sure way to lose the race of soul-winning. Many of the Corinthian Christians seriously limited their testimony because they would not limit their liberty. They refused to give up their rights, and in so doing they won few and offended many.

MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary – 1 Corinthians.

UNDERSTANDING

The simple definition of discipleship is a disciplined follower of.  If we are to be disciples of Christ then we must choose the path of discipline.  Paul tells us that a disciple is one who trains, who beats his body and makes it a slave.  All too often we have equated discipleship with someone teaching us or training us, but discipleship is more than that.  Teaching is the imparting of knowledge. Discipleship is imparting the knowledge and requiring a response to the knowledge. The difference between discipleship and training is that again discipleship takes it a step further.  Discipleship requires accountability for the training received. 

As believers our responsibility regarding discipleship is twofold; we are to be disciples and then be responsible for others becoming disciples.  We are to be transformed by Christ and be instrumental in transforming other believers, and it should be happening concurrently.  Every one of us are to be disciples and making disciples regardless of if you are a new believer or one who has followed Christ for years. 

LIFE APPLICATION

How many of us are missing the race and disqualifying ourselves from the prize because we are unwilling to lay down our liberties and rights?  We are afraid of accountability and discipline.  Let’s say yes to God’s way and what He has called us to.  Let’s be about the business of the Great Commission – being disciples and making disciples.  No excuses accepted!

28 Days: Day 20

• John 17:20-23 (NLT) ²⁰  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. ²¹  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. ²²  “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. ²³  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Protecting the Unity of the Fellowship

Here are some ways we can ensure that we protect our fellowship…Focus on what we have in common not our differences:  we share God’s love, salvation, heaven and the grace of God. These are the things we need to focus on.Be realistic in your expectations of your fellow brother or sister.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that the real beginning of community is when we realize that no church is perfect and that it is because all of us are imperfect and in need of grace.Choose to encourage rather than criticize each other.Refuse to listen to gossip.Practice God’s method of conflict resolution.  (see Matthew 18:15-17)Support and submit to your spiritual leaders. Today again, as you go to prayer, confess the areas where you have caused the fellowship to weaken and choose today to protect and deepen our fellowship.  Remember as you do this we come one step closer to being a Great Commission Movement.

28 Days: Day 19

SCRIPTURE

• Romans 12:9-13 (NLT) ⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. ¹⁰  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ¹¹  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. ¹²  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. ¹³  When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

OBSERVATION

Paul gives us some ways to truly deepen and protect our fellowship with believers. It starts with a commitment to do what is good and right. With that purposing of heart we are to love each other with genuine affection or love. We are to honor them. We are to pull our weight in the family and we are to work together with enthusiasm. Help those in need and be hospitable.

These things help us keep unity in the family.

UNDERSTANDING

God loves unity.  In fact it is so important that in the establishing of the church, God, in the New Testament gives more attention to unity of that church than either heaven or hell.Unity is at the heart of fellowship.  Without unity you destroy the body of Christ.  Without unity there is no fellowship and without fellowship there is no church.The Bible admonishes that we as believers are to make every effort to keep the fellowship of the church intact.  To be agents of unity, commissioned by Jesus to promote and preserve fellowship among believers.  In fact, there is the understanding that if you are causing disunity among the believers then you are in sin.  Anything that destroys unity and fellowship is sin. In the reading today two phrases really got my attention.Love each other with genuine affection.  What does it look like for us to love each other with genuine affection?  It would mean looking out for each other, not speaking badly of them and even when they frustrate us we are not dishonoring towards them with others.  And that is just a start.The other phrase that really struck me is, ”never be lazy, but work hard…”  I didn’t really think about it until I read it that when family members are not pulling their weight and helping it causes discord and disunity.  It wears down the ones who have to pick up the slack and causes there to be resentment.

LIFE APPLICATION

Today as you go to prayer will you ask God if you have been guilty of destroying unity and fellowship?  And when He shows you will you confess it to God and to His family so that there is healing for you and the family.