July 11, 2022 -- I Corinthians 10:26-27 -- God, Have Your Own Way!

People loved by the Father, by the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body nd keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I Corinthians 10:26-27 ESV

After the sermon yesterday evening, the minister chose as the hymn of application “Have Thine Own Way, Lord!” Immediately after the service a friend came up to me and noted, "I sang that hymn and my whole being protests. Will I really yield myself that fully to God?"
What an awesome comment. As Christians it is easy to just “go through the motions”.

Paul warned his readers about “just doing churchy things”. He gave two illustrations of how silly that is. You cannot imagine that in the middle of the Olympics one of the marathon runners would just suddenly decide what course he is going to run—you can’t make it up as you go. Either you follow the strict rules of the race, or you are a fool. When two boxers get into the ring, with a huge audience watching, you don’t expect one boxer suddenly turn his back on his opponent and suddenly begin dancing around and making a show of himself. He’ll be knocked out right quick and mocked as a show-off with no brains. The very crowd he was trying to entertain would boo him as a fraud, not a boxer.

Therefore, fellow Christian, keep your body and your mind, your thoughts and your actions under strict control. Merely zigzagging and making a show of the faith is not acceptable. And before you say, well, I’m not a preacher so I don’t have to be worried about being disqualified. Nice try. We are all ambassadors for Jesus. Our lives are a sermon preached to the people around us. Our every action is judged by God and weighed by the people who see us and know us. Get your head and heart into the faith marathon and live for Jesus. May your life cause many around you to see Jesus living in you.

Mighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we candidly confess how readily we follow the impulses of our hearts and go our own way. Forgive us. Redirect us, Father in heaven, by the powerful presence of Your Spirit so that our word and actions reflect our whole-hearted commitment to Jesus Christ. Thank You, O Captain of Salvation, that You do not give up on your people. Amen.

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