1 Corinthians 9:24-27 / Intentionality

In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul takes a chapter to defend himself against those who were accusing him of using the Gospel ministry for personal gain. He sets the record straight and gives a passionate testimony about the lengths he will go to share the Gospel and his burden to proclaim it.

Nearing the end of the chapter he shifts from defending to exhorting – challenging the Corinthians, and now us, to live with intentionality: 

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. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

If we are not careful, our spiritual walks can drift from being passionate to mundane, useful to lazy, loving to legalistic, or from focused to distracted. In these four verses Paul is grabbing us by the collars of our shirts and saying, “Listen! Believer, you don’t have time to just drift by in this life! Live like you are trying to achieve something, live to win many to God’s Kingdom, live like there is an ETERNAL PURPOSE you have been given and time is running out! 

Athletes devote so much of their lives to incredibly disciplined routines in order to perfect their sport. What you are living for is of such greater value – how could you possibly approach it with any less intentionality or passion? Paul says, don’t waste time doing things that ultimately do not advance God’s Kingdom. “I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air” – Be intentional with your days. With your hours, and your minutes. 

Each of us has a limited time on this earth to make the greatest impact for God that we can, so make each step count!

This week – take some time to get quiet before the Lord, look at your weekly calendar and ask the Lord, “God, I want to live each day intentionally on mission for You. Please show me the areas where I am using up time that could be better spent leading others to You."

Let’s make each and every minute count for the glory of God.

Blessings, 

Pastor Dave 

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