So that I will not be disqualified

1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; ²¹ to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 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.

²⁴ 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.

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³ and all ate the same spiritual food; ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” ⁸ Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. ⁹ Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. ¹⁰ Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Paul begins today’s text saying:  For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;  to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.  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.  I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.   There are some people who will refer to this portion of scripture as a justification to embrace and participate in sin, so as to win sinners to Christ. They will also say that Jesus Himself associated with sinners and outcasts. First Paul says: I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some, but also says: though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ. As for Jesus, when He was questioned about eating and fellowshipping with sinners and outcasts, His response was:  “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)  It is right for Christians to associate with sinners, but not to embrace or participate in sin. It is to win them to Christ. It is to call them to repentance. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says:  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.Nor do theylight a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works andglorify your Father in heaven.”  We should never become one with the darkness, but rather dispel darkness with light. Romans 12:21 says:  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The text continues:  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. 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.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;  but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.   Could it really be that after preaching the gospel to others, that Christians might themselves be disqualified?  In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says:   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”   Galatians 5:16-24 says:  I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Paul exhorts us saying:  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.  It can be difficult when we are in the world, when we are associating with those who take part in worldly pleasures, not to become tempted by those same things. The way of escape is the Holy Spirit, who is given to us to be our guide. The Holy Spirit is one with God and will never lead us against God’s will. We must choose to walk by the Spirit; to yield to the Spirit. Jesus provided the way of escape. On the cross, He said: “It is finished!” (John 19:30)  He overcame sin and death, once for all. Romans 8:35-39 says:  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   In John 16:33 Jesus says:  “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  Romans 12:8 says:   If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit, may I indeed be at peace with all people and may that peace be through the overcoming power of the cross. May I be a light in the darkness. May Your Spirit in me be a light and my guide. May I run the race that You have set before me. May I never be disqualified, but rather one day hear the words, well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.   Amen.