Day 20: 9:19-27 (Running the Race for Christ: Discipline and Devotion)

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

2. OBSERVATIONS :
a.  What did this passage mean to its original audience? 
Paul’s objective in this passage is to show that he is willing to accommodate himself to the culture and traditions of others in order to gain an open to share the gospel with them and hopefully lead them to salvation through faith in Jesus.  When he writes “I became a Jew” and “ I became one under the law” he is referring to his willingness to submit to the Jewish dietary laws when he was in their company although he understood that in Christ he was no longer obligated to do so.  

On the other hand, when he was with non Jews, those he describes as “outside the law” he acted as one outside the law. The “law” he refers to is the Torah, the Jewish religious laws. If he followed the Jewish law he would not have the opportunity to sit and eat and share the gospel with non-Jews. Paul clarified what he meant by the phrase “being outside the law”  with the parenthetical statement, “not being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ”.  Paul did not want them to think he was “lawless” - sinning against God. He was no longer under obligation to fulfill the Jewish law but he was obligated and committed  to obeying God by obeying the commands of Jesus.
 
Paul wraps up his thought by emphasizing that he has a calling and a purpose from God that takes precedence over his desire for personal comfort. Fulfilling God’s purpose for him and leading people to the savior is of greater value than any other pursuit.

b. What does this passage reveal about God?

• Jesus is our example who leads us to run the race that God has set before us. (See Hebrews 12:1-3)

c. What does this passage reveal about people?

• We have a tendency to set our own goals and agendas which are often focused on our own rights, freedom, pleasure and comfort. We need to run the race which God has set before us. We also have a tendency to create walls and barriers between us and other people who are not like us culturally. We ought to be looking for ways to build bridges and remove barriers between us and those who need the gospel.

 3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?

•  I will commit myself to being a bridge builder and barrier breaker for the sake of those who need Jesus.  I will renew my commitment to pursue spiritual disciplines so that I will not disqualify myself by behavior which contradicts the message of the gospel and my “Christian” profession.

4. PRAYER:

•  Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that although I am free from following the law of Moses or any other human religious system of laws, I am nevertheless obligated to obey your commands and live according to your teaching and example.  Help me to use my words and my actions to build a bridge between you and those who don’t know you.