ESOCS Devotional 24 September 2025 – Are You Training to Win?
MEMORY VERSE: “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9: 27 KJV
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:13 -27
Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
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You read your Bible, attend church, tithe, serve, pray and passionately love Jesus. You do all the right things and you’re living the Christian life, except for maybe that one little thing. We all have one. It’s the thing that completes the phrase: “I have no self-control when it comes to …”
Your one little thing might be managing money, handling conflict, dealing with temptation or being patient and waiting on God.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul emphasizes the importance of self-discipline in a Christ-filled life by comparing it to the mindset of a serious athlete. How might an athletic training program look when it’s applied to our one thing?
Serious athletes develop their training programs using instructions from reputable leaders in the field. Our training programs are based on instructions from the only leader in the field, Jesus Christ.
The Bible provides wisdom and encouragement for every challenge.
CHALLENGES
- How do you typically respond when faced with your “one little thing”?
- How would you like to see yourself respond when faced with this challenge?
PRAYER POINT
- Father, help me take the one step I need to take today to begin facing challenges with the disciplined mindset of an athlete in Jesus name, Amen.
FURTHER READING: 1 Kings 6:1-38; 1 Corinthians 10:1-18
ESOCS Devotional 24 September 2025
