ESOCS Devotional 24 September
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 9:13 – 27 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.” 1 Corinthians 9:15 KJV
The law of sacrifice says that a leader must give up something to go up. Part of these sacrifices may be certain things to which the leader is entitled. Paul was a leader who surrendered the rights he could have legally held onto, and this made him effective. He made the Corinthian church to know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and those who offer sacrifices on the alter get a share of the sacrifices (1 Cor. 9:13). Furthermore, he told them that Jesus Christ ordered that those who preach the gospel should get their living from it (1 Cor. 9:14; Matt. 10:10). In the old testament, as part of their pay, priests in the Temple received a portion of the offerings as their food (Num. 18: 8-24). But from our memory verse, Paul said he had not made use of any of those rights, and that he was not saying it now in order to claim them (1 Cor. 9:15). Of him, we read that:
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
1. He was a man who gave up his right to a wife (1 Cor. 9:5).
2. He was a soldier who gave up his right to a salary (1 Cor. 9:7).
3. He was a vineyard worker who gave up his right to eat his grapes (1 Cor. 9:7).
4. He was a shepherd who gave up his right to drink the sheep’s milk (1 Cor. 9:7).
5. He was an ox who gave up his right to eat grain (1 Cor. 9:10).
6. He was a ploughman who gave up his right to the harvest (1 Cor. 9:10).
7. He was a temple worker who gave up his right to food (1 Cor. 9:13, 14).
8. He was a preacher who gave up his right to an offering (1 Cor. 9:14, 15).
There are many sacrifices, which a true leader could make to serve God and his nation. But making sacrifice is a virtue. Apart from the leader, we all have one thing or the other to give up to make our church, our society, and our nation, a better place to worship and live. Finally, the sacrifice above all sacrifices is the one made in order to serve God – giving up all ungodliness for the sake of Christ; so our salvation is assured.
CHALLENGES
- Are there habits you feel like giving up, which you have not; and you are bothered about them?
PRAYER POINT
- Ask God to help you to identify these habits and the ability to renounce them for the service of humanity and God.
FURTHER READING: Mark 12:41-44; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Philippians 3:7-9
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ESOCS Devotional 23 September
