1 I am a free man. I am an apostle. I have seen Jesus our Lord. You people are an example of my work in the Lord. 2 Others may not accept me as an apostle, but surely you do. You are proof that I am an apostle in the Lord.
3 Some people want to judge me. So this is the answer I give them: 4 We have the right to eat and drink, don’t we? 5 We have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel, don’t we? The other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter all do this. 6 And are Barnabas and I the only ones who must work to earn our living? 7 No soldier ever serves in the army and pays his own salary. No one ever plants a vineyard without eating some of the grapes himself. No one takes care of a flock of sheep without drinking some of the milk himself.
8 These aren’t just my own thoughts. God’s law says the same thing. 9 Yes, it is written in the Law of Moses: “When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don’t keep it from eating the grain.” [a] When God said this, was he thinking only about work animals? No. 10 He was really talking about us. Yes, that was written for us. The one who plows and the one who separates the grain should both expect to get some of the grain for their work. 11 We planted spiritual seed among you, so we should be able to harvest from you some things for this life. Surely that is not asking too much. 12 Others have this right to get things from you. So surely we have this right too. But we don’t use this right. No, we endure everything ourselves so that we will not stop anyone from obeying the Good News of Christ. 13 Surely you know that those who work at the Temple get their food from the Temple. And those who serve at the altar get part of what is offered at the altar. 14 It is the same with those who have the work of telling the Good News. The Lord has commanded that those who tell the Good News should get their living from this work.
15 But I have not used any of these rights, and I am not trying to get anything from you. That is not my purpose for writing this. I would rather die than to have someone take away what for me is a great source of pride. 16 It’s not my work of telling the Good News that gives me any reason to boast. That is my duty—something I must do. If I don’t tell people the Good News, I am in real trouble. 17 If I did it because it was my own choice, I would deserve to be paid. But I have no choice. I must tell the Good News. So I am only doing the duty that was given to me. 18 So what do I get for doing it? My reward is that when I tell people the Good News I can offer it to them for free and not use the rights that come with doing this work.
That's right, If I don't tell people the Good News,I am real trouble. I did it because it was my own choice, I would deserve to be paid. I have no choice. I must tell the Good news. God give me the greatest spiritual gift that not same with others so that we can work with others to serve the only God. What is my spiritual gift???
Recently when I ask this question, I found I got many chance to serve others. I'm sensitive to the lost. I'm sensitive to the sad people. I'm willing to pray for them. I'm a good prayer. That's what God give me. I wish I could use what I have from God to serve others. Thanks God.
19 I am free. I belong to no other person, but I make myself a slave to everyone. I do this to help save as many people as I can. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew so that I could help save Jews. I myself am not ruled by the law, but to those who are ruled by the law I became like someone who is ruled by the law. I did this to help save those who are ruled by the law. 21 To those who are without the law I became like someone who is without the law. I did this to help save those who are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by the law of Christ.) 22 To those who are weak, I became weak so that I could help save them. I have become all things to all people. I did this so that I could save people in any way possible. 23 I do all this to make the Good News known. I do it so that I can share in the blessings of the Good News.
Amen, I wish I could be like Paul have a discipline life. Freedom and discipline, both included in a Christianity life. Our purpose in life that is bring glory to God and lead someone to Christ. We have to train ourselves and make ourselves discipline to fulfill the purpose of living. Freedom and Discipline both are important, can't be miss out either one.
24 You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win! 25 All who compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a prize—one that doesn’t last. But our prize is one that will last forever. 26 So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. 27 It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it.
As a christian, we need be train, that's include praying, reading the words of God, and worship. That's the training that could make us strong so that we could have a healthy spiritual life. Sometimes we must sacrifice something that good to us. Everyone have their own mission give by God. Differ mission must trained by different training. But all over we just have a purpose, that to please our mighty God.
Today, Thanks God. I really happy to see that my sis back to prayer life again. Just like what bible said, We know that all things work together for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. God u love my sis and my bro in law~ Foon. I know what you given to them as a training to be better person and love one another by Love of God. God, please lead them. As the pray, u answer their prayer. I had learn must from them too. Thanks God. You are great ^^
No comments:
Post a Comment