The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Corinthians 9-11
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: 1 Corinthians 9-11
Paul first states his rights as an apostle, then he reveals that he has laid aside these very rights for the glory of God and the good of others. He has become all things to all people for the sake of the gospel. Of course, this doesn’t mean he is a chameleon changing his colors to match his environment. If we know anything about Paul, we know that he was not a people pleaser. In context, he was describing how he deferred, set aside his own freedom, when it was best for the people he was serving. He used athletic metaphors to describe what motivates this kind of deferential lifestyle. He was running for a prize, so of course the discipline required was well worth it. He was living with real purpose, and this kind of life is not aimless, but self-controlled. Self-control, for the glory of God and the good of others, was not a hallmark of the Old Testament narrative. In fact, we were given their failures as an example of how we are not to live our lives. Now, in the age of the Spirit, we are empowered to live very different kinds of lives. We have been given the opportunity and ability to live in ongoing victory over temptation to sin. We do not live as slaves to our sins; we now live as free sons and daughters of God. We do not have to live asserting our rights. We do not have to live being continually petty and easily offended. We can live in the freedom of putting the interests of others ahead of our own. We can be all things to all people for their good because we have decided to live fully for God’s glory. If what we eat, drink, do or say, causes unnecessary offense or becomes a barrier to the gospel, we should happily adapt to what is best for others and not simply demand our own preferences. Why? Because whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do it all for the glory of God. This shouldn’t lead to our becoming slaves to the demands of others. We are not obligated to do whatever someone may demand we do. What someone needs and what they demand from us are not always the same thing. To know the difference between demands and actual needs and to adapt appropriately requires situational awareness and self-control. Both of these are attributes of the spiritually mature.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for God to encourage Sarah as she serves in Central Asia. Pray for friend “grandma” to turn to Jesus.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.