Join us as we focus each day for nine weeks on a different part of 1 Corinthians 13.
Friday: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Saturday: It always protects, always trusts
Sunday: Always hopes, always perseveres.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25
Read: 1 Corinthians 13
Listen: 1 Corinthians 13
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The Isthmus of Corinth was home to the Isthmian games. These Panhellenic games were held the year before and after the Olympic games. In the 1st century AD, winners received crowns of pine boughs. The Corinth Jesus-community knew what he meant when Paul uses the example of the Christian life as training for a race. He encourages them to live in such a way to win a crown. Not one of pine boughs, but one that lasts forever, through rigorous character training to reflect Jesus and impact others.
Training to compete at the highest level of athletics takes sacrifice. It is difficult. It looks easy when we watch them compete. Yet, it probably wasn’t easy the first time they did it or even the 100th time. They trained over and over and over.
Following Jesus takes training. We don’t work to earn our salvation but to train our character to be like Jesus. The Bible and the Holy Spirit are our coaches and trainers. They point us in the right direction. They challenge, instruct and encourage us. They give us the strength to continue when we feel like giving up.
But, we have to put in the time and energy to grow. There’s something to do in every Beyond the Weekend so we can train in a way that helps develop the character of Jesus. Memorizing the Bible puts God’s word inside us so that it will come to our attention at the right moment. Journaling creates a space for reflecting on life to see where we need to change. Asking God to make something clear to us permits him to speak into our life. Training takes time, but the goal is a crown that lasts forever. Not only is our spiritual life on the line, but Paul tells us it is also about the spiritual lives of those around us.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
It takes time to build habits. Recommit to training through the Habits of Love Challenge. The goal is that at the end of the 9-weeks, the habits become such a part of who we are that we make them look easy, just like a pro athlete.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
