Paul
the apostle exhorted the church members in Corinth that, “they
which run in a race run all,
but one receives
the prize?,
and he told them to “run,
that you may obtain”,
and in chapter nine and verse twenty-five
of First Corinthians, Paul told
the church members how those who “strive
for the mastery”
“do it to obtain a corruptible crown”
where we read:
And
every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
The
verse begins, “And
every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.”
Paul began
with the words, “and every man”
which means “and each, all, the whole and everyone” “that
strives for the mastery”
which is the Greek word “agōnizomai”
from which we derive the English word “agonize” and
means “to enter a contest, contend with adversaries, fight and
struggle with difficulties and dangers such as in the gymnastic
games” “is temperate”
or “is self-controlled and continent” “in
all things”
which means “within each, every, the whole and everything”. Those
who “contend, wrestle and struggle” in games are
“self-controlled” and disciplined in every way.
The
verse continues, “Now
they do it
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
Paul added
the words, “Now” or
“then, therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being
so” “they do it”
which means “those who strive for the masteries are
self-controlled” “to obtain”
which means “take with the hand, lay hold of and carry” “a
corruptible crown”
which means “a perishing and decaying mark or royal exalted rank
which was a wreath or garland which was give as a prize to victors in
public games”; “but” which
is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was just stated “we
an incorruptible”
or “Paul and the church members a crown which never perishes or
decays”. Those who compete in “masteries”
and “competitions” on earth receive a “crown”
that will perish, but Paul and those who follow his ways shall
receive a “crown”
that shall never diminish or decay.
When
we think through these words from Paul, we see the superior value of
the “incorruptible crown” over the one that “perishes”.
Paul desired to motivate the church members in Corinth to be
intensively involved in sharing the “gospel”, and he used
“sports” illustrations to demonstrate the “self-control” or
discipline that was needed to accomplish their goals. Jesus Christ
desires for people to know Him, and when people “strive”
for the “incorruptible crown”, they “agonize” in areas
that are most important for eternal and everlasting life.
Next
time Paul told the church members, “I
therefore so run, not as uncertainty”,
and
how he “fights, not as one
that beats the air”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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