Topic: You shall not be a castaway
Bible Reading: Psalm 136-138; 1 Corinthians 9
Memory Verse: “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.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV.
When an athlete runs, it is to win a race. In order to win that race, the athlete needs a lot of training, discipline and focus watching both physical and emotional form to ensure he can compete effectively and win the race. The Christian journey is also a race and we all are on this race to win by making it to heaven. It is therefore important that you are mindful of the spiritual food you eat to ensure you are not weighed down by it. Such food entails what you do with your body, soul and spirit.
What do you feed your mind with? Do you imagine fornication or adultery in your mind? Do you keep malice in your heart? Are you quick to forgive or rather keep bitterness towards others for offences committed against you? Are you ready to share with others the resources both material and mental that God has given you? Remember that the Lord has expantiated the understanding of some transgressions in his sermon on the mount. Matthew 5:28 (KJV) says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Also the Lord Jesus says
in Matthew 5:22 (KJV), “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” So if you are still at the level of physical fighting, fornicating, lying amongst other transgressions, you are already feeding your body with poison that will work against you winning the race.
On the other hand, if you are living a life of witnessing Christ to others, holiness, regular fellowshipping with Christ, then your spiritual life will be healthy and you can easily know when you are occasionally running off track so as to correct it promptly.
The truth is that this race is not easy but can be made less burdensome if you have faith in Christ and rely on the Holy Spirit for direction in your activities. This is why Apostle Paul said in
1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV), “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.” You need to watch how you use your body, soul and spirit to ensure you are not a castaway. The surest way is to be sensitive to and yield continually to the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times.
Prayer point :
Father, help me to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit continually so that I will not be a castaway in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero