Monthly Archives: July 2025

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ADAPTING TO OTHERS TO BRING THE GOSPEL

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July 16

1 CORINTHIANS 9

21 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. 22 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. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 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. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

                                                                – 1 Corinthians 9:21-27

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ADAPTING TO OTHERS TO BRING THE GOSPEL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you bring the good news to the unbelieving world

Be sensitive to those whom you are bringing God’s word

Adapt to their lifestyle but present the gospel truthfully

Find a way to develop relationships with those you will preach to

When you are rigid and legalistic, they will have a close mind

Then you will not be able to be the hand and foot for God.

In this letter, Paul stresses the importance of walking in love as believers reach out to bring the gospel to those who do not know Christ. Sadly, many believers fail to do this and get to presenting the Good News as if it was a commodity to persuade others that they need to buy or consume. What Paul is saying is that we ought to adapt to the lifestyles of those whom we would be reaching out to present the gospel.

Poole comments “To the Gentiles, he behaved himself as if he himself had been a Gentile, that is, forbearing the observances of the Levitical law, to which the Gentiles had never any obligation at all.” While Smith says “Paul sought to win people to Jesus Christ by being sensitive to their needs and identifying with them. We should try to reach people where they are today and expect to see changes later.”

REFLECTION

  • What are some wrong ways a believer can bring the gospel to the world?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GROUND FOR BOASTING

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July 15

1 CORINTHIANS 9

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 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.

                                                                        –1 Corinthians 9:15-20

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GROUND FOR BOASTING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Do not boast of anything you accomplish on your own

As a servant of Christ, boast only of bringing his kingdom to come

If you expect to be paid for doing what is expected of you

What else are you going to look forward to when you face Jesus?

Paul continues to assert letting go of his right to be compensated for his apostleship. He was preaching the gospel for free because he knows the reward awaiting him when he faces Jesus in his second coming. He took pride in doing this because in those days, there were a lot of religious entrepreneurs who would preach any message to get money. Paul was glad that he could be free from being identified with these crooks. His reward was that he was not reliant on the support of anyone. His conscience is clear that he is doing what was expected of him by God without any compensatory expectation from anyone.

How many Christians have the same viewpoint as Paul’s regarding foregoing his wage? He was doing his kingdom work for the sake of truth and to bring the gospel to as many people as possible without any obstacles for truth to be preached. His ground for boasting is that his apostleship was unadulterated and not motivated by self-seeking gains.

REFLECTION

·       Share how Paul’s purity of service is such a novelty in our world today?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ON COMPENSATING SPIRITUAL WORK

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July 14

1 CORINTHIANS 9

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

                                                          – 1 Corinthians 9:8-14

1 CORINTHIANS 9 ON COMPENSATING SPIRITUAL WORK

In this letter, Paul asserts the right of every worker of God to be compensated for the work they do to spread the gospel and lead people to their salvation. Verse 9 alludes to Deuteronomy 25:4 where God commanded that they shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. This command is about humane treatment of a working animal. According to David Guzik’s commentary, in those days, grain was broken away from its husk by an ox walking on it repeatedly, usually in a circle. It was cruel to force the ox to walk over all that grain, yet to muzzle him so that he couldn’t eat of it.

When Jesus sent out his disciples as mentioned in Luke 10 Jesus instructs “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. Paul reiterates this instruction of Jesus in this letter. Although Jesus mentioned that spiritual works also deserve compensation, it was honorable for the worker not to expect any wage but that his reward is when the gospel was received.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important not to think of compensation so much when we do kingdom work? Why would some people think spiritual work need not be remunerated?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GIVING UP RIGHTS

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July 13

1 CORINTHIANS 9

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

                                                                     – 1 Corinthians 9:1-7

1 CORINTHIANS 9 GIVING UP RIGHTS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you serve Jesus, you deny your rights

You do not fight for entitlements but you rely on Christ

This shows that you are giving up self-reliance.

Instead, you lean on God and let go of independence.

In this letter, Paul foregoes his right to be compensated as an apostle. Instead of his entitlement for wages for his labor of love, he emphasized the importance of self-sacrifice in order to prioritize bringing the gospel to the Corinthian church. He asserts his apostleship and mentions that he worked hard to ensure that the gospel reached everyone in Corinth. He wasn’t expecting them to pay him for all the things he did in order for God’s kingdom to come to Corinth. He focuses on the aim of the gospel preaching which is to save everyone’s soul if they believe in Jesus Christ.

In our world today, many ministries have risen and online platforms are being used to bring the gospel to our homes. It isn’t hard to find many mega-churches who have prospered because of certain media platforms they used to reach people. It even went overboard as to preaching the gospel, but has become a venue for prosperity gospels which have nothing to do with God’s kingdom. It seems to be the opposite of the sacrifice that Paul did in the time of writing of this letter. Some spiritual leaders have forgotten that they’ll be remunerated in heaven and not here on earth.

REFLECTION

·       What rights have you given up as a Christian? Why did you give it up?

1 CORINTHIANS 8 AVOID BEING A STUMBLING BLOCK

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July 12

1 CORINTHIANS 8

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothersand wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. – 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

1 CORINTHIANS 8 AVOID BEING A STUMBLING BLOCK

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As you grow your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Watch out that you do not hinder the walk of the weak

Do not be trivial and legalistic towards their practices

Be patient and kind with the ones who just discovered Christ

It is considered a sin if you hinder their growth and confuse them

They will be divided in their spirit and weakened in their faith

Like a good father, Paul admonished the Corinthian believers of their trivialities regarding practices in eating food. Because the Jews have so many rules about what to eat and what not to eat, He wanted to give them a glimpse of how God is not trivial. He is all-knowing and can see all the hearts of men. He understands the process of growing their faith and is not legalistic about continuing their belief system. Just as a good father will be patient and understanding of their children, so is Paul with the believers. Paul called the attention of the believers and that they must ensure that they do not get in the way of the progress of the walk of the new believers. He reminds them that it is sin if they become a stumbling block to the growth of their faith by being legalistic about certain rules that they used to follow. They should be resilient and understanding and get out of the way of the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of the new believers.

REFLECTION

  • What are some ways we can be a stumbling block to new believers in Christ?

1 CORINTHIANS 8 KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP BUT LOVE BUILDS UP

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July 11

1 CORINTHIANS 8

 Now concerningfood offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. – 1 Corinthians 8:1-6

1 CORINTHIANS 8 KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP BUT LOVE BUILDS UP

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Be watchful if knowledge is something you seek regularly

You can be puffed up and make you proud of yourself

Seek only the knowledge that comes from God’s word

It is the only wisdom that makes you overcome this world

God wants you to walk in love and instead think of others

It will give God glory and praise if you do this to one another.

Paul cautions the Corinthian church of the downside of seeking too much knowledge. He says that it makes a man puffed up with pride when they obsess about knowledge. Why do you think he warns them not to be so consumed by it? When we seek too much knowledge, it usually is to appear superior or much better than others. We can easily think we are right and others are wrong or we can be obsessed with our reputation for knowing more than others. Comparisons set in and then we marginalize those who do not live up to our standards. We become presumptuous and assume that people will look up to and respect us because of such knowledge that we have. So, one desire to look accomplished turns into more discrimination over others or a competitiveness against others. We believe in ourselves and go against being “loving.” We become impartial to those who have different views than ours. It brings about “idolatry” in us wherein we are the gods ourselves. It doesn’t give God glory when we do this.

REFLECTION

·       How is wisdom different from knowledge? How does knowledge make us proud?

1 CORINTHIANS 7 ON CONTROLLING ONE’S DESIRE

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July 10

1 CORINTHIANS 7

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.– 1 Corinthians 7:36-40

1 CORINTHIANS 7 ON CONTROLLING ONE’S DESIRE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As humans, it is inevitable to have our own desires and passions

A desire is a strong longing or yearning for something or someone

A passion is an intense emotional reaction to a particular thing or person

Be careful that your desires and passions do not consume you

If you serve Jesus, you will let the Holy Spirit guide your desires

Crave only for things that are holy and those that build up others.

In this letter, Paul weighs whether it is better to stay single or married. He discussed desires and passions. He gave examples of situations where one may be unable to control their desires or passions. In verse 36 he points out the importance of controlling their desires with their fiancée but if they cannot regulate such passions and it overwhelms them, he advises them to marry so that they will not sin. In verse 37, he commends those who are able to control themselves and wait for that period of engagement. For the widowed, Paul recommends for them to stay single and he thinks that it is wise advice for them to follow so that they could focus on serving the Lord.

In our world today, many people cannot have desires and passions that are under control. We live in a society where instant gratification is the norm and delaying getting what we want is a novelty.

REFLECTION

  • How can Christians become more aware of earthly cravings and control it?

1 CORINTHIANS 7 UNDIVIDED DEVOTION TO GOD

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July 9

1 CORINTHIANS 7

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

1 CORINTHIANS 7 UNDIVIDED DEVOTION TO GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Since God is a God of order and not of chaos

He protects us from confusion by stipulating laws

If we follow his commands, we will not be anxious

He gives wisdom to all who aligns their will to his statutes

He expects undivided devotion as he gives steadfast love to us

Though we have roles to fulfill, we ought to prioritize our Lord.

In this letter, Paul admonishes them to be free from anxieties. He addresses the various concerns that people have depending on their situations in life. He mentions that the married men and women have more things to worry about because they ought to please their spouses. On the other hand, the single man or woman may be concerned only about how to please the Lord.

In his future letters, he reminds the Corinthian church that God is a God of order and not of confusion and that everything must be done decently and in order. Just reflect on how God created the world. There is a sequence he followed. In his wisdom, he knew exactly how things should go because he knew everything even before he created them. When Adam and Eve sinned, they disrupted the order that God initially planned for mankind to follow. So, humans have tendencies to be anxious and prioritize the “self” rather than God. Satan distracts us from undivided devotion to the Lord with so many things such as our roles in life and the things that we love in this world.

REFLECTION

  • What might hinder us from giving God our undivided devotion?

1 CORINTHIANS 7 TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD

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July 8

1 CORINTHIANS 7

25 Now concerningthe betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed womanmarries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

                                                              – 1 Corinthians 7:25-31

1 CORINTHIANS 7 TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As you live in this world, be ready to face trials                                                

When you are married, you will encounter more of it

When two different people come and live together

More patience and acceptance are required for harmony

If you approach troubles as opportunities to trust in the Lord

It will be life lessons instead so you can overcome this world.

Paul warns the church to view the world in a spiritual perspective. He presents troubles in a way that will not defeat their faith. Instead, he prepares them for situations that may bring about more trials and adversities in their lives. He is actually teaching them to learn to be content in whatever situation they are in. He gives them training to face life without unrealistic expectations by making them focus on what their conditions in life are. He advises them to stay put in whatever they are in at the time the Lord called them.

I got married as I was approaching my fifties. I can attest to what Paul is saying that there are more troubles in marriage rather than being single. I didn’t have to consider someone else’s view on something or their family upbringing. It was less problematic being single.

REFLECTION

  • Share some troubles that marriage brings that singlehood doesn’t.

1 CORINTHIANS 7 LEAD THE LIFE YOU ARE ASSIGNED

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July 7

1 CORINTHIANS 7

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservantwhen called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

1 CORINTHIANS 7 LEAD THE LIFE YOU ARE ASSIGNED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God calls you to be part of his kingdom

Remain in that condition whatever you are doing

Lead the life that you are assigned, that is your vocation

Don’t change anything, let God make the transformation

You were bought with a price, remember his steadfast love

Respond to God’s calling with all your heart, soul and mind.

In this letter, Paul emphasizes the grace and gift that God gives to those whom he calls into his kingdom. It didn’t matter whether they were slaves or free, married or single. In verse 20 he advised them to remain in the condition in which they were called to serve. He gave the examples of being a servant or a free man, single or married.

Why do you think Paul stresses to them the importance of staying put when they are invited to God’s kingdom? Paul wanted them to focus on God’s power and grace, not on their limited human capacities. Paul wants them to see the power of God himself. He can transform however mundane your condition was and use you as a vessel to make himself known to mankind and his will fulfilled.

REFLECTION

  • What was the condition of your life when you were called to serve God?