1 Corinthians 9 - 1.26.26
Scripture
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? 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 someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Observation
Paul talks about self-discipline in this passage. Not only does he preach the Gospel, but he keeps watch over his own life, so that he himself would finish the race. I like how he says that he makes his body his slave so that he would not be disqualified from the prize.
Why does Paul go into such extreme imagery about making his body his slave?
The older I’m getting, the more desperate I’m getting for Jesus to help me to finish the race. It’s not about how well we started, but more about how well we finish.
For some reason, the longer we’ve been in the race, the more endurance it takes to finish well. Grief, illness, disillusionment, discouragement, unfavorable circumstances and just plain old feeling tired (weariness) can tempt us to quit, but Paul is encouraging us to continue fighting the good fight and endure until the end. Paul even gave that charge to Timothy (his apprentice) when he said, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” -1 Timothy 6:12 NIV
Application
Keep practicing and keep running to win the prize!
Every skill takes practice. Whether it’s a sport, a musical instrument, driving a car or even cooking and baking, we need to practice in order to improve upon that skill. Eventually, pattern recognition and muscle memory kicks in and we start getting better and better at it.
Spiritually, we need to continue to train and discipline our bodies (not just physically, but mentally as well), to run to win the crown. Practicing our faith never ends, no matter how long we have been in this game.
Our time of prayer and fasting is always a great way to have our bodies submit. When it tells us to eat when we want to spend time with God, we choose to spend time with God. When it tells us to scroll on socials instead of reading our Bibles, we read our Bibles. When our feelings tell us to go against God’s Word, we let God’s Word override those feelings. When our feelings tell us it’s too hard to forgive someone, we do what God tells us to do and take the action to forgive. The more we practice doing the things that God desires, the more our bodies will naturally gravitate towards those desires. The more we read God’s Word, the more His Truth and His Character will fill our minds, instead of the devil’s lies.
Let us not just run this race of faith for fun, but actually run to win!
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who continues to give me the will and self-discipline to do what You want me to do. There are many times in life when I start to get tired and weary. Thank You for reminding me to keep going and not to quit. Help me to finish the race and this journey of faith well. Discipline my mind and body to run to win. I want to be like Paul at the end when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV) Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Proverbs 3 - 1.23.26
Scripture: Proverbs 3:3-6 NIV
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Observation:
Love and faithfulness should always be a part of who we are and how we act. Solomon says to bind them around our neck and to write them on our heart. When something is around our neck we always know it’s there. Binding it suggests so tight it will not move. Writing on the tablet of our heart implies that love and faithfulness flow out from within. They will guide our emotions. When we do this, we will win favor with God as well as a good name. That favor will also flow into our relationships with people.
We need to trust God with all our heart. This leaves no room for doubt. God created all and knows all. We should not lean or rely on our own understanding. We can’t possibly understand or see the full picture God does.
In all my ways, everything I do and my habits, I am to submit to Him as my guide. He will make my paths straight. The direction to go will be clear.
Application:
A straight path is easier to walk on than a crooked one. I want to trust in God alone and not my own understanding. It seems like this would be simple. However, we are bombarded with information that can cause us to feel like we have the knowledge to make decisions and forget to seek God’s wisdom.
I want to have love and faithfulness as my guide. These two things will bring God honor for He is the ultimate example of love. He also is faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us.
What an incredible God we serve. May I walk in His love and be faithful to the things He has called me to do. I want to look to Him first for direction. The straight path may be rocky, but He will keep my feet from stumbling.
Prayer:
Father God,
Thank you that I can call you Father. You are faithful beyond what I can even imagine, and nothing can separate me from your love. Please keep me on your path. May others experience your love flowing through me. Help me be faithful and acknowledge you in all my ways. Help me remember I can trust you. May I not get weary in waiting for promises you’ve given. I know you will bring them to pass at just the right time. May I look to you during transitions and know you have the path laid out for me. Help me not to lean on my own understanding, but instead look to you with eyes of faith. When I have the favor and good name as promised I will give all glory to you. Amen
- Cindy Howard
Ezekiel 35 - 01.21.26
SCRIPTURE
“Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all —the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel.
You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.” You boasted—against —ME and spoke—against —ME —without restraint—and I heard it.”
Ezekiel 35:12-13 NIV
OBSERVATION
God is pronouncing a judgement against Mount Seir.
Mount Seir is another name for Edom, the nation founded by Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Esau was a man of the world with no spiritual desires and willingly sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. Jacob was given a new Name by God—Israel. Esau hated his brother because the Lord had chosen him to receive the blessings of the Covenant. The hatred Esau had was passed on from generation to generation. What their founder Esau vowed to do in his day, the Edomites accomplished in their day when they killed their own blood relatives—the Jews.
God had assigned land to the Edomites but they wanted to Claim the Canaan Land belonging to the Israelites as well.
The Edomites did not understand they were attempting to Change God’s Plans and annul God’s Covenant.
God said..
““For you (Edomites) said, ‘The lands of Israel and Judah will be ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care that the Lord is there!’ Therefore, as surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will pay back your angry deeds with my own. I will punish you for all your acts of anger, envy, and hatred.
And I will make myself known to Israel by what I do to you.”
(Ezekiel 35:10-11 NLT)
APPLICATION
“I WILL COME To you”
God tells His Chosen people that HE will Come to Them. What looks like a terrible disaster—God is about to Turn around. “And I will make myself known to my people by how I rescue them”.
What an extraordinary Promise.
God knows the sins of His own people—but HE is in the business of Redemption for His Name’s sake. And HE will not let the enemy trample and boast as if God were a weak God. Even though His chosen people have been scattered broad and wide amongst many nations—God KNOWS exactly where each one is—and HE is about to Gather them—ALL—back into their own land.
“For I WILL take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your—own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24 AMP)
Even IF the other nations or rulers wanted to stop God from Gathering His people, they could not. Just ask Pharaoh in Exodus.
I Love how HE doesn’t say, “Come to Me”, but, “I WILL Come to You.
I will come and get you—and Lead you out of captivity.”
Again—exactly what God did in Exodus.
And—This is what God Does for us—TODAY!
The Greatest Exodus of All—Comes Through the Cross of Christ—when
the Holy Spirit Comes To Lead His people out of the Captivity of Sin and Death.
God regenerates His People. HE cleanses us and Changes us—and this is not of our own doing.
“And I WILL give you a new heart,
and I WILL put a new spirit in you.
I WILL take out your stony, stubborn heart
and I WILL give you a tender, responsive heart.
And I WILL put my Spirit in you—so that
you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”
(Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT)
God reconciles His People Through Christ to Himself..and as Pastor Levi so beautifully shared in his teaching on Sunday—this is Not just about a Future Heaven OR the benefit of being saved from Hell.
This is for Right Now—to experience the benefits that His forgiveness offers—SO we can be ONE with Him—TODAY—dwelling and abiding in His Presence—wrapped in the rapture of His Love.
“So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me—for I will be living in you.”
(John 14:20 TPT)
“Now this is eternal life—that they KNOW—YOU —the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 NIV)
Know: ginóskó- from the Greek, meaning to Know deeply, personally, intimately, with Love, continual fellowship, desire to learn more.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“If any of you wants—to be my follower, you must give up your own way,
take up your cross, and follow me.”
(Matthew 16:24 NLT)
PRAYER
LORD JESUS,
I can never forget how YOU Came to gather me to Yourself. I wasn’t looking. I didn’t know I needed to be saved. I didn’t know what was missing from my life.
Thank You for Your Amazing Grace that sent someone in the store to convict my heart. Thank You for lining up the meeting of Suzy who I didn’t even want to meet. Thank You for bringing me to a Pentecostal Church when I had absolutely no idea what that meant except I heard the word of God taught straight from the Bible and the Gospel message and Your voice saying “That’s you..raise your Hand and respond. YOU alone walked me through each step. I am nothing without Your calling and Your Mercy and Grace. You alone saved my life. Make it what You will. Teach me what it means to follow you. Prepare me for this new season. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Be my first and only obsession. In Your Holy Name.
Amen.
Tina L Kudelka