the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
1 Corinthians 9:1-27 Puffed up with their gifts and knowledge, some had assumed a position of leadership in the Corinthian assembly. And since exalting oneself always involves belittling others, they had gone so far as to challenge the apostle’s authority, that is to say to challenge God’s authority. As a result, Paul finds himself forced to justify his ministry and behaviour. To preach the Gospel was his duty which he had received from the Lord. He had not been disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts 26:17-19).
The apostle made himself the servant of all in order to win them to the Gospel. Must we conclude then that he fell in with all kinds of compromises? Certainly not! If Paul was a "deceiver" for Christ, he was also "true" (2 Corinthians 6:8). But, like the Lord Jesus Himself at the well of Sychar, he knew how to meet each soul on his own ground and to speak in language which each could understand. To the Jews he presented the God of Israel, their part in the rejection of the Saviour, the Son of David, and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:38 . . .). To the idolatrous Gentiles he proclaimed the one God, who is patient towards His creatures, commanding repentance (Acts 17:22 . . .). The apostle constantly had before his eyes the prize which was to crown his efforts: all the souls saved through his ministry (1 Thessalonians 2:19; Philippians 4:1). Straining toward the finishing line he ran like an athlete in the stadium strictly disciplining his body, thinking only of victory. But the champion in sport only has before him a short-lived glory, laurels which will have faded tomorrow (v. 25). Our Christian race has at stake a crown with a different kind of glory which can never fade. Let each one run so as to win it (v. 24).
