Getting the Forever Prize

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Mark Shields

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. – 1 Corinthians 9:24

One thought shared in the post “Enthusiastically Going After Our Treasured Reward” was that Paul was adaptable for others so he had the opportunity to inspire others towards accepting the Gospel message. He wanted people to feel empowered and ready to be deployed to change the world.

Paul followed the Word and was disciplined like a runner in a race enthusiastically going for first place. The difference for Paul is that the reward that He was after is a crown that last forever.

Like in the song Live with Abandon by Newsboys, desire that your life matters, accept the power God gives through the Holy Spirit, and give God all you have so His purpose can be fulfilled through you.
 

 

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Enthusiastically Going After Our Treasured Reward

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Mark Shields

Reading in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, Paul’s attitude was to be all things to all people in order to win them to Christ. Since he was single or free and did not belong to any one, he enthusiastically ran the race by becoming interested in the needs of others. For the Jew, he became like one under the law. To the weak, he became weak to win them over to the way of Christ.

Paul was free without being carried away or compromised with this freedom because he was under the law of Christ. He followed the Word and was disciplined like a runner in a race enthusiastically going for first place. The difference for Paul is that the reward that He was after is the crown that last forever.

Paul used the principles taught by Christ to train spiritually and we can do the same. Each day, we can be excited like a team running onto a field before a football game. We can go into training to change lives, win people to Christ, and receive the everlasting reward that is beyond what we could ever imagine.

The picture below is my dog Marlee. She is ready each day to get up early for her food. This picture displays her way to tell us she was ready to be fed as she hopped up on the chair next to the dinner Table.

This day with You Lord, we go into training to get our treasure. Like an athlete that sometimes doesn’t feel like working out but does in order to get a prize. We do things because we are going after the everlasting reward received at the end of this race we call life. During this race, we seek to change lives, to win people to You, to inspire others so they are empowered and ready to be deployed to change the world. Opportunities are right in front of us today to bring victory for ourselves and in the lives of others we meet. Amen.

 

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Bridge the Gap

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Mark Shields

Life is not easy with hardships, embarrassments, predicaments, and impediments but you must maintain your hope, desire, faith, and fire. These qualities will bridge the gap over the barriers and traps of life. Just like this photo of the Waco Suspension Bridge, we can build things that bridge the gap to impediments. The bridge in the photo was built for commerce to cross over the Brazos River and used as a part of the Chisholm Trail as they drove cattle up to Kansas in the 1800’s. Without the bridge, it was a time-consuming and sometimes dangerous ordeal to cross the river.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Bridge the gap over the barriers and traps of life. Just like this photo of the Waco Suspension Bridge Waco Texas -built for commerce to cross over the Brazos River and used as a part of the Chisholm Trail

There are hardships,
Embarrassments,
Predicaments,
Impediments.

It’s not easy
And there will be
Defeats along the way
But here is the key.

Maintain your hope;
Maintain your desire;
Maintain your faith
And maintain your fire.

These qualities
Keep you out of a trap;
Over the barrier
And bridge the gap.

So turn your dreams
Into reality
And set to achieve
All you are meant to be.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 11-03-2018

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Interests of Others

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Mark Shields

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4

Written in the post “Best Motive for Serving” is that Paul didn’t get compensated for preaching the gospel. He didn’t say it was wrong and claimed that those who preach the gospel should be able to receive their living from the gospel. He made the comparison of a farmer who makes his living from what he produces on the farm.

For Paul, the reward was not for himself but for the interests of others and serving the Lord out of love. There was a freeing aspect in serving the Lord out of personal generosity as his faith expressed itself through love.

In the same way, the path built by our generosity is the best way for it is in giving that we find true joy and meaning. Giving not only our time or money but as pointed out in the song When Love Sees You by Mac Powell, giving our testimony or life story and how we became a Christ follower.

Those that give their story to others are blessed. The story of struggles, of pain, of shame, and that Jesus came to give us a new story for the future. A story of joy, of peace, and even fame because those who follow Christ have their name written in the book of life.
 

 

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Best Motive for Serving

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Mark Shields

In previous chapters, Paul taught about rights like marriage and the right to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. In 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, he teaches about those who preach the gospel having the right to earn their living from the church.

Paul claims that those who preach the gospel should be able to receive their living from the gospel. He makes the comparison of a farmer who makes his living from what he produces on the farm.

Even though Paul was not one of the original twelve apostles who were with Jesus during His earthly ministry, he considered himself an apostle. Reading in Acts 9, Paul saw and talked with the resurrected Christ who called him an apostle.

We find out from reading this passage that Paul foregoes his right to make his living by preaching the gospel. Instead, he had the best motive for serving which was out of love for the Lord. The irony is that while Paul was not compensated for his ministry, the ultimate reward for sharing the gospel was worth much more in the long term than any short term gain here on earth.

Just as with Paul, sharing the gospel message rewards far beyond being compensated by our work here on earth. It goes beyond just being obedient to God’s commission or fulfilling our duty. The most rewarding part is that it satisfies our soul.

We then serve the Lord out of love and our growing faith is never depleted because each time we share the gospel message, the light of Christ shines brighter. There is greater freedom to share and we find out that it is in giving that we receive our greatest reward.

Our growing faith is never depleted because each time we share the gospel message, the light of Christ shines brighter.

This day with You Lord we have opportunities to share our story and it will be fulfilling because in sharing with others about Your love, we receive treasures that are collected for eternity. One story at a time, we will make an impact by passing along the light of Christ into the hearts of many. The adventure ahead will make a difference in our own life as we share the gospel message, it will demonstrate our love for You, and also change the world for the better. Amen. 

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