I Am Under Christ’s Law
I am
free. I don't belong to anyone. But I make myself a slave to everyone. I do it
to win as many as I can to Christ.
To
the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law
I became like one who was under the law, even though I myself am not under the
law. That was to win those under the law. To those who don't have the law I
became like one who doesn't have the law. I am not free from God's law. I am
under Christ's law. Now I can win those who don't have the law. To those who are weak I became weak. That was
to win the weak.
I
have become all things to all people so that in all possible ways I might save
some. I do all of that because of the
good news. And I want to share in its blessings.
In a
race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don't
you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. All who take part in the
games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will
not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
So I
do not run like someone who doesn't run toward the finish line. I do not fight
like a boxer who hits nothing but air. No, I train my body and bring it under
control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the
rules and fail to win the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Life is full of reversals, and we as Christians are not excluded
from disappointments that make us want to give up. But in the race that is the
Christian life, Paul challenges us to keep running.
If we falter in our running – if we quit serving God or give in
to sin because of our difficulties – we risk losing a rich reward we could have
received had we run our best.
Greater than winning any medal will be
hearing our Master telling us of a job well done at the gates of heaven.
Our Daily Bread –