Friday, June 26, 2026
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).
If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?
The Corinthians had used (faulty) humanistic standards to appraise and question Paul’s apostleship or ministry, so the Holy Spirit in him responded: “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Paul was not the least intimidated that these spiritual children had criticized him, for he knew the Lord would evaluate his service and reward him accordingly.
Instead of pointing out Paul’s alleged “faults,” the Corinthians were to make note of the following: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). As an athlete (runner, boxer/wrestler, and so on) prudently diets, exercises, and trains to be physically fit to compete and win, so Paul made sure he walked according to the principles of grace (what he preached). Any careless conduct would result in him being a “castaway,” his Christian service unapproved of (rejected by) God.
Here, the Corinthians (and we) would do well to follow Paul….
333 Words of Grace 