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Day 9 1 Corinthians 9 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? Or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? Or said not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or said he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plows should plow in hope; and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 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. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: 27 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. Have you been questioned about your qualifications to do your job or hobby? Has someone told you, you don’t have the necessary qualifications to seek the work you want to do? Paul defended himself as an apostle, giving a complete resumé of his qualifications. His qualifications showed he was equal to the apostles who spent three years learning from Jesus. People are ready to condemn a person and their reasons for working in the field whether as a volunteer or paid employee. When you want something so much you will do whatever it takes to see it through, your yearning isn’t only something you want, but it’s a calling from God on your life. One such person who felt led to be a missionary, but was turned down by the mission agency, was Gladys Aylward. She wanted to go to China. She felt it as an urgent need, but when she applied to the mission board, they told her she wasn’t qualified. She didn’t give up, and paid her passage to China with wages earned as a housekeeper. Her arrival in China would change lives and save hundreds of children during the Sino-Japanese War. She led children over mountains to the coast where the mission board waited for them. When the director of the mission board saw who led those children, he realized how wrong he was in turning her down as a missionary. She was more than qualified, because God qualified her. What has God qualified you to do? As Christians, we tend to think we don’t have a significant role to play in the body of Christ. We won’t all be called on to do great things, but God does call each of us and equips us with the gifts and talents necessary, along with the drive to stay the course and see it through. Gladys became a Chinese citizen and learned the language so she could win a few souls to Jesus Christ. She did whatever it took. Paul did whatever was necessary to win souls to Jesus. Are you doing whatever it takes to win souls to Jesus Christ? What stirs in your spirit? What has God called you to do? Do it. God has already equipped you for service. Let’s pray: Father, You have a place for me in Your kingdom. You already equipped me for service in Your kingdom. Help me to fulfill Your calling on my life and not back down or allow the enemy to steal what You purposed in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 22 March 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay