1 Corinthians 9

N the world around us,is an environment that is at enmity with the Spirit and Word of God,and therefore at odds with ABSOLUTE TRUTH!We should not b surprised by the way those who have not turned to Christ for His Grace&Mercy act differently than we need to act;respond differently than we should to life’s deepest/most important questions;prioritize “life stuff” differently than we should;discipline their lives differently than we need to;etc!Yet,our actions;words;&attitudes often indicate a surprise that comes across as judgemental & condemning to those that have not yet appreciated the Amazing Grace&Mercy of Christ.1Cor9:19-27 teaches about the life/attitude/heart we need to have as we live n a world at enmity with God,& the disciplines we also need to maintain in our lives...if we are to “run the race” of life n a way that is a blessing to those around us,as well as a blessing for ourselves personally that is ETERNAL(1Cor9:25,”Everyone who competes n the games goes into strict training.They do it to get a crown that will not last;but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”)We, OURSELVES, must train ourselves to be ready for whatever the “day’s games” are going to challenge us with.The “training” for believers is found n The Word of God and through His Spirit leading us/training us/preparing us for each and every day.If we are not “training”,then we r either foolishly unaware of each day being a “race”/challenge of some kind,or we just don’t care about winning a crown that lasts forever!Each day has potential Eternal Blessings/crowns waiting for us to “run to” as we live as Christ calls us/trains us to live.1Cor9:19 says that these blessings are especially the impact our lives can have on those around us for the sake of Eternity(“For though I am free from all(free because of a personal relationship with God through Christ),I have made myself a servant to all(having a sincere heart desire to be a living conduit of The Gospel to others),that I might win more of them(that my life may be what Jesus uses to love others into His Saving Grace&Mercy/The Gospel)).As we are “running” every day,included in the lessons of 1Cor9:19-27 is the call for our lives to be considerate of others,without allowing our personal lives to dip back into the ways of the environment around us that is at enmity with God-1Cor9:20-23”To the Jews I became as a Jew,n order to win the Jews.To those under the law I became as one under the law(though not being under me the law myself) that I might win those under the law.To those outside the law I became as one outside the law(not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ)that I might win those outside the law.To the weak I became weak.I have become all things to all people,that by all means I might save some.I do it for the sake of The Gospel,that I may share with them in its blessings.”In other words,we are to have such a soft heart for the lost that we are humbled by their eternal condition without The Gospel being appreciated in their lives,& that our heart breaks for them.So much so that we train ourselves up for the sake of The Gospel in their lives...preparing ourselves for the challenges that will surely come into our own lives as we run with Eternal Purposes as our motivation->crown/blessings that last forever.AND as we run each day’s race,we maintain the personal disciplines in the way we live/run that are the “training” we receive from God’s Word and The Spirit of Christ!Dear Lord,I miss the “race” so many days...not even showing up at the starting line for the day,let alone “training up” for the day.Thank You for bringing these verses into my life today! AND may Your Word and the Strength of Your Spirit be the source of my “running” today...may I also have the kind of heart for those in my path today that these verses call me to have...may Your Life/Your Grace/Your Mercy be lived out n my run today.