1Corinthians 9-10; Psalms 145
One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 305
1Corinthians 9
9Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?G1510G3756G652G1510G3756G1658G3780G3708G2424G5547G2257G2962G2075G3756G5210G3450G2041G1722G29622Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.G1487G1510G3756G652G243G235G1065G1510G5213G1063G4973G1699G651G2075G5210G1722G29623This is my answer to those who question my authority.G1699G627G350G1691G2076G37784Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?G2192G3378G1849G5315G2532G40955Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does?G2192G3378G1849G4013G79G1135G5613G2532G3062G652G2532G80G2962G2532G27866Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?G2228G1473G3441G2532G921G2192G3756G2192G1849G3361G20387What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk?G5101G4754G4218G2398G3800G5101G5452G290G2532G2068G3756G1537G2590G846G2228G5101G4165G4167G2532G2068G3756G1537G1051G41678Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?G2980G5023G3361G2596G444G2228G3004G3780G3551G5023G25329For the law of Moses says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?G1063G1125G1722G3551G3475G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G3361G3199G2316G3199G101610Wasn't he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.G2228G3004G3843G1223G2248G1223G1223G2248G1223G1063G1125G3754G722G3784G722G1909G1680G2532G248G1680G3348G1909G846G168011Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?G1487G2249G4687G5213G4152G3173G1487G2249G2325G5216G455912If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.G1487G243G3348G1849G5216G3756G2249G3123G235G5530G3756G5530G5026G1849G235G4722G3956G3363G1325G5100G1464G2098G554713Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.G1492G3756G1492G3754G2038G2413G2068G1537G2411G4332G2379G4829G237914In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.G2532G3779G1299G2962G1299G2605G2098G2198G1537G209815Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.G1161G1473G5530G3762G5130G1161G3756G1125G5023G2443G1096G3779G1096G1722G1698G1063G3123G3427G599G2570G2228G2443G5100G2758G3450G2745G275816Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!G1063G1437G2097G3427G2076G3756G2745G1063G318G1945G3427G1161G3759G2076G3427G3362G2097G3362G209717If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.G1063G1487G4238G5124G1635G2192G3408G1161G1487G210G3622G410018What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.G5101G2076G3427G3408G3767G2443G2097G5087G2098G5547G77G1519G2710G3361G3450G1849G1722G209819Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.G1063G5607G1658G1537G3956G1402G1683G1402G3956G2443G2770G411920When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.G2532G2453G1096G5613G2453G2443G2770G2453G5259G3551G5613G5259G3551G2443G2770G5259G355121When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.G459G5613G459G5607G3361G459G2316G235G1772G5547G2443G2770G45922When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.G772G1096G5613G772G2443G2770G772G1096G3956G3956G2443G4982G3843G4982G510023I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.G1161G5124G4160G1223G2098G1223G2443G1096G4791G846G479124Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!G1492G3756G3754G5143G1722G4712G5143G3956G3303G1161G1520G2983G1017G3779G5143G2443G263825All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.G1161G3956G75G1467G3956G3303G3767G1565G2443G2983G5349G4735G1161G2249G86226So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.G1473G5106G3779G5143G3756G5613G84G3779G4438G3756G5613G1194G10927I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.G235G5299G3450G4983G2532G1396G3381G4458G2784G243G846G1096G96
1Corinthians 10
10I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.G1161G80G2309G3756G5209G50G3754G3956G2257G3962G2258G5259G3507G2532G3956G1330G1223G22812In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.G2532G907G3956G907G1519G3475G1722G3507G2532G1722G22813All of them ate the same spiritual food,G2532G5315G3956G5315G846G4152G10334and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.G2532G4095G3956G4095G846G4152G4188G1063G4095G1537G4152G4073G190G1161G4073G2258G55475Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.G235G1722G4119G846G2316G2106G3756G2106G1063G2693G1722G20486These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,G1161G5023G1096G2257G5179G1519G2248G1511G3361G2556G1938G2531G2548G19377or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry."G3366G1096G1496G2531G5100G846G5613G1125G2992G2523G5315G2532G4095G2532G450G38158And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.G3366G4203G2531G5100G846G4203G2532G4098G1722G3391G2250G5140G1501G55059Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.G3366G1598G5547G2531G5100G846G2532G3985G2532G622G5259G378910And don't grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.G3366G1111G2531G5100G846G2532G1111G2532G622G5259G364411These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.G1161G3956G5023G4819G1565G5179G1161G1125G4314G2257G3559G1519G3739G5056G165G265812If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.G5620G991G1380G2476G991G3361G409813The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.G2983G3756G3986G2983G5209G1508G442G1161G2316G4103G3739G1439G3756G1439G5209G3985G5228G3739G1410G235G4160G4862G3986G2532G4160G1545G5209G1410G529714So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.G1355G3450G27G5343G575G149515You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.G3004G5613G5429G2919G5210G3739G534616When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ?G4221G2129G3739G2127G2076G3780G2842G129G5547G740G3739G2806G2076G3780G2842G4983G554717And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.G3754G2070G4183G2070G1520G740G1520G4983G1063G3348G3956G3348G1537G1520G74018Think about the people of Israel. Weren't they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?G991G2474G2596G4561G1526G3780G1526G2068G2378G2844G237919What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?G5101G5346G3767G3754G1497G2076G5100G2228G3754G1494G2076G510020No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to participate with demons.G235G3754G3739G1484G2380G2380G1140G2532G3756G2316G1161G2309G3756G5209G1096G2844G114021You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.G3756G1410G4095G4221G2962G2532G4221G1140G3756G1410G3348G2962G5132G2532G5132G114022What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?G2228G3863G2962G3863G2070G3361G2478G84623You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial.G3956G1832G3427G235G3956G4851G3756G4851G3956G1832G3427G235G3956G3618G375624Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.G2212G3367G2212G1438G235G1538G208725So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.G3956G4453G1722G3111G2068G350G3367G350G1223G4893G122326For "the earth is the LORD's, and everything in it."G1063G1093G2962G2532G4138G84627If someone who isn't a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.G1161G1536G571G2564G5209G2532G2309G4198G3956G3908G5213G2068G350G3367G350G1223G4893G122328(But suppose someone tells you, "This meat was offered to an idol." Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you.G1161G1437G5100G2036G5213G5124G2076G1494G2068G3361G1223G1565G3377G2532G4893G1063G1093G2962G2532G4138G84629It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks?G4893G1161G3004G3780G1438G235G2087G1063G2444G2919G3450G1657G2919G5259G243G489330If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?G1161G1487G1473G5485G3348G5101G987G5228G3739G1473G216831So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.G1535G3767G2068G1535G4095G1535G5100G4160G4160G3956G1519G1391G231632Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.G1096G677G2532G2453G2532G1672G2532G1577G231633I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.G2531G2504G700G3956G3956G3361G2212G1683G4851G235G3588G4183G2443G4982
Psalms 145
145[A psalm of praise of David.] I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.H1732H8416H7311H430H4428H1288H8034H5769H5703 2I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.H3117H1288H1984H8034H5769H5703 3Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.H1419H3068H3966H1984H1420H2714 4Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.H1755H1755H7623H4639H5046H1369 5I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.H7878H3519H1926H1935H6381H1697 6Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness.H559H5807H3372H5608H1420 7Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.H5042H2143H7227H2898H7442H6666 8The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.H3068H2587H7349H750H639H1419H2617 9The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.H3068H2896H7356H4639 10All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.H4639H3034H3068H2623H1288 11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.H559H3519H4438H1696H1369 12They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.H3045H1121H120H1369H3519H1926H4438 13For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.H4438H5769H4438H4475H1755H1755 14The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.H3068H5564H5307H2210H3721 15The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.H5869H7663H5414H400H6256 16When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.H6605H3027H7646H7522H2416 17The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.H3068H6662H1870H2623H4639 18The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.H3068H7138H7121H7121H571 19He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.H6213H7522H3373H8085H7775H3467 20The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.H3068H8104H157H7563H8045 21I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.H6310H1696H8416H3068H1320H1288H6944H8034H5769H5703
Dublin, OH
.G1699
