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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 14 June 2024:
1 Corinthians 9:12 — Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Don’t let issues, disagreements and conflicts distract people from hearing the Gospel from you and witnessing the power of the Gospel in your life through your behavior. We are often called to surrender our rights for sake of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:12)
Paul did not demand his rights before others because he didn’t want anything to detract from his preaching of the Gospel of Christ. He preferred to suffer maltreatment from others rather than risk any offense or conflict standing in the way of his message.
“…but we endure….” Paul points out that self-control in our relationships and encounters with others takes great self-discipline, patience, endurance, and perseverance empowered by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 9:25). Rather than saying “we endure” the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible says, “[we] suffer all things,” which is perhaps more fitting, and the word for “patience” in the KJV is “longsuffering,” which also rightfully describes the personal sacrifice required to bear one another’s burdens and take up your cross daily. Sometimes everything within us wants to “put other people in their place,” or “give them what they deserve,” but if we do, they may not hear another word we say. Why is submitting to maltreatment for the sake of an offender so difficult for us, at times seemingly the hardest thing in the world to do? Pride. We think we deserve justice from others while relying on the grace of God for our salvation. We want grace for ourselves and justice for them. We demonstrate the love of Christ when we share in Christ’s sufferings of enduring unloving behavior in order to demonstrate the love of Christ to the unloving in hopes that they would turn to Him. We model the love of Christ best when we take up our cross.
– 1 Per 2:22-23 — He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
– Hebrews 12:1-4 — Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In our struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
– Philippians 2:3-8 — Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
– Philippians 1:29 — For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
– Philippians 3:8 — Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
– Philippians 3:10 — that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death….
– 2 Timothy 1:8 — Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
– 1 Peter 2:21 — For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
– 1 Peter 4:13 — But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
– 1 Peter 5:10 — And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Are you willing to quietly and patiently suffer maltreatment from others, responding only with love and the Gospel message that you may glorify God? “Pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
1 Corinthians 9:16 — Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Do you say this? Woe to Christians who do not preach the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:18 — What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Preach the Gospel without regard for any reward or credit. Remove self from the conversation. Take yourself out of the picture. It has nothing to do with you, only Jesus. Don’t make a name for yourself through the Gospel. Just Jesus.
1 Corinthians 9:24 — Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
Keep your eyes fixed on the prize of Jesus. Running is hard; it takes every bit of your effort. Sometimes you feel like you can’t go any further, but you must keep pressing forward with all your might. You must run your best race, not getting distracted by the other runners, no comparison. When you are winning the race, you are often running alone. Don’t be surprised if there are not many people who are willing or able to run with you. Find a running partner who can push you to new levels.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 — Every athlete exercises self-control in all things…. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Self-control and discipline are key attributes of a disciple. It takes incredible self-control not to respond to abuse from others. Again, don’t stand up for yourself. Read Galatians 6:1-3. Deny self; take up your personal cross of abuse, and follow the lead of Jesus through personal adversity as you love sinners unconditionally.
– Galatians 6:1-3 — Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 14 June 2024: Show shocking love by not defending yourself against maltreatment and by responding to evil with good. Do this as an act of worship and as a testimony to others of the power of the Gospel. Think nothing of yourself, but preach the Gospel. Have the strength, courage, and faith to trust God to restore what is denied you by others. Don’t let an issue of maltreatment stand in the way or be a distraction from the Gospel. Remember, when you defend yourself, you make yourself and the issue the center of attention rather than Jesus. Deny yourself and take up your cross in that situation, and bear the burden of the offense against you as a gift to God and as an act of fellowship with Jesus who suffered and died on the cross for you. (1 Corinthians 9:15-27)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 