1 Corinthians 9:15-19 Free of Charge
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 26, 2020 1 Corinthians 9:15-19
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
(Understanding the Text) Paul supported himself when he preached to the Corinthians even though he had a right to expect the believers to support him. Now, he tells them that he had to preach the gospel to them because that was the command of Jesus, and if he did not obey Jesus, then he would be in big trouble in his life. Thus, he denies any grounds for bragging about how he preached to them. Therefore, Paul says that he did not charge them to preach to them so that he could show his willingness and eagerness to do what Jesus commanded him to do. He doesn’t want to do the minimum necessary. Instead, he wants to eagerly serve Jesus by winning as many converts as possible. He became the servant rather than the master in order to reach more people. His reward is the people themselves because he is doing this of his own will, not only because it was a responsibility laid upon him. He goes the extra mile because he wants to reach more people.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) Paul says he cannot boast about telling others about Jesus. That is simply something he has to do. He boasts that he does it to the best of his ability. He does the job that Jesus gave him to do to the max, not just putting in the minimum effort. Paul does this because he has seen how beautiful Jesus is and that Jesus loves the Corinthians. Jesus became a servant for all, so Paul follows the example of his Lord and lives a life of service rather than a life of ease.
(Application) My application for myself is that I need to put in 110% to any job Jesus gives me whether it is to someone that I think won’t even be able to hear it and will go to sleep in the middle of it, or if it is to bright eyed listeners who shout out amens. I need to give all of myself to people who don’t seem worthy to me and who repulse me, as well as to the loving intelligent “worthy” humans I am attracted to. No human is a waste of my time because no human is a waste of Jesus’ time. I need to give all my effort regardless of the situation simply because it is for Jesus.
(Prayer) Help me to always give the most to others even when I am feeling discouraged or unsuccessful. Direct my sight to You and away from the world and its problems so that I can remain enthusiastic and confident.