1 Cor 9 — Paul Surrenders His Rights
1 Cor 10 — Warning Against Idolatry, Do All to the Glory of God
1 Cor 11 — Head Coverings, The Lord’s Supper
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Paul covers a lot of ground in chapter 9, including: having a wife, getting paid for ministry, the right to surrender the right to payment, becoming like others to win them for Christ and finally, running as if to win the race. Of these themes, I’m drawn to the end of the chapter for motivation for our upcoming move. “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24b). This is a challenge to run hard toward a goal that God has placed before me, not selfish ambition; rather, a Godly goal. “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer bating the air” (9:26). Lord help me to see the goal you have for my life and give me courage to make a path directly for the finish line!
In Chapter 10, Paul focuses on the word “example” to give us something concrete to examine. First he shows us how Moses led the captives out of Egypt, through the wilderness and to the promised land as “examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (10:6). Further, “these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come” (10:11). He provides more details and concludes, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (11:1).
A particularly important verse defuses our errant ways: “No temptation has overtake you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when your are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (10:13). No temptation is too much for any of us, God will always provide a way to escape the claws of temptation. That’s good news and bad news all at the same time. Good because God is faithful; bad because I can only blame myself for my disobedience. Lord help me to see temptation for what it is and follow your prompting rather than trip down the slippery slope of sinful desires.
Chapter 11 includes the words for the Lord’s Supper we often hear when we share communion. “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me…this is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (11:24, 25). But Paul quickly points out, “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” (11:27). Lord help me to examine myself in the full light of your presence and humbly come before you in communion with the body of Christ. I come before you with my hands open and a humble heart. Thank you for your patience with me. Help me share this love with others!