Christianity Oasis Forum

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THURSDAY AUGUST 27


PURPOSE IN ROUTINE

READ:
1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT
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I run with purpose
in every step.
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A rolling-ball clock in the British Museum struck me as a vivid illustration of the deadening effects of routine. A small steel ball traveled in grooves across a tilted steel plate until it tripped a lever on the other side. This tilted the plate back in the opposite direction, reversed the direction of the ball and advanced the clock hands. Every year, the steel ball traveled some 2,500 miles back and forth, but never really went anywhere.

It's easy for us to feel trapped by our daily routine when we can't see a larger purpose. The apostle Paul longed to be effective in making the gospel of Christ known. "I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air" (1 COR. 9:26 NIV). Anything can become monotonous__traveling, preaching, teaching, and especially being confined in prison. Yet Paul believed he could serve Christ his Lord in every situation

Routine becomes lethal when we can't see a purpose in it. Paul's vision reached beyond any limiting circumstance because he was in the race of faith to keep going until he crossed the finish line. By including Jesus in every aspect of his life, Paul found meaning even in the routine of life.

And so can we. _____David McCasland

**Lord, give us renewed vision and energy
to pursue the goal of making Christ known
in the midst of our daily routine.
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Jesus can transform our routine into meaningful service for Him.

******************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Corinthians (:19-27************************
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself
a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the
Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those
who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win
those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law,
as without law (not being without law toward God, but under
law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without
law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the
weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all
means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I
may be partaker of it with you.

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but
one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain
it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in
all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we
for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with
uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I
have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
To illustrate his unwavering resolve to preach
the gospel to as many people as possible (1 COR. 9:18-23), Paul used
two athletic metaphors__a runner who keeps his eye on the
finish line, and the targeted and precise punches of a boxer.
These examples picture the passion, focus, commitment,
dedication, and hard work needed to carry out his resolve. In
2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul used the same two metaphors. While
athletes compete to win a prize bestowed by men, Paul sought to
win an eternal crown awarded by Jesus. Faithful believers will
receive various types of crowns as their reward (2 TIM> 4:8; JAMES 1:12;
1 PETER 5:4; REV 2:10). __F. R. Hudberg