Perspective

 Perspective

The beginning of 2022 came with a word from the Lord. Saturday during our prayer group He again breathed fresh rhema on it. I believe it will benefit many who read this.

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In 2022 the Lord gave me 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then [do it] to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

On Saturday He added verses 19-23

19 For though I am free from all [men], I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. … 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

What is God saying in this passage and what is His intent in breathing on it again specifically for us?

When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians he was likely in his mid to late 50s. According to history, Paul was 30 when he receive Christ and 1 Corinthians was written in about 52 AD. I’m 62 and received Jesus when I was 19. Everyone in my prayer group in older than me and we have all been believers for a very long time. We all know a lot and we’ve done a lot.

The main emphasis from the Lord in this:

1. Remember to live sacrificially. Paul determined to make himself a freewill slave to all because he still had a heart for souls. (19)

2. We are to adapted to those around us for their sake that they might receive Christ. (22)

3. Our whole life – our focus and perspective – is to be centered around the eternal. (23-27)

4. Exceptional athletes live all-encompassing self-controlled lives for a far inferior reward. What is the eternal reward worth to us? (25)

5. Running to win for the Christian means to live a self-controlled goal-in-mind life of sacrifice and physical discipline. (26-27) Is "retirement" even a Biblical term?
   

So what does this mean to us? This means that if you are over weight, as I am, it’s time to get in shape—to the best we can. How can we run our race if we are unfit? Eating improperly and being overweight makes us drowsy. Drowsy people don't pray well. (The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7) It means that if we don’t pray, it’s time to admit that we are failing in our walk with the Lord and start praying. It isn’t that hard. Just do it. Make time for Him. It means that “well I’m just that way” isn’t a Kingdom mind-set. Face it, it’s time to change. It means that some of us, maybe all of us, just don’t live with others’ eternal in mind as we should. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, do we?

Paul also says that he doesn’t run without aim or beat the air. That means he knows specifically what he’s supposed to be doing. This only comes from interaction with the Holy Spirit. Sure we can get general information from the Scriptures, but specific vision comes only from God.

The last years of our lives are not for coasting. Shift out of neutral. You may grind the gears a bit, but wake up and get moving. If you are breathing God still has something for you.