July 17, Reading 3 – 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:14

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Run your life to win the crown that never perishes! God grant us Christ and His power, so that our running will not be in vain! Paul runs straight on into warnings from Scripture about taking spiritual things lightly.

SJA Notes

* Father God in Heaven, thank You for Your word that is new every morning to our souls.

“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Personal holiness is a big deal.

Any witness and ministry we have, we see Paul’s point here – Our own personal agency in holiness is real.

Paul is giving us a clear direction, that we are responsible for our actions, how we behave in this life.

We are called to holiness, to flee from idolatry, to resist sexual sin, to put down our self-pride and trust in Jesus.

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Paul is not telling us to be proud that we discipline ourselves, running the race with purpose. This is not something that we should be proud about.

We are prone to fall, we fail, we are so very frail.

But God is not. He is faithful. His purposes will not be thwarted, and whenever we are tempted we must (because we forget so easily) remember – He has given us a way out!

* Gracious Lord,

May our hearts be true to You today. Please fix our eyes on Jesus, we would run with purpose the race set before us.

Please help us to be singular in our devotion to You. Today and each day onwards.

Amen.

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