Daily Devotions
August 17th, 2015 by Pastor Solley1 Cor 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 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.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 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.
The word crown in common on the Bible, found 66 times. But when you move into the New Testament it becomes very narrow in the way it is used. In the gospels it is used only in connection with Jesus Christ and the crown of thorns that He wore. Then it is used only of the born again believer in Jesus Christ with two exceptions in the book of Revelation where it is used of Jesus Christ once again and then of the nation of Israel. So when the Bible speaks of the believer and crowns it should grab our attention. Crowns for the believer are rewards and the Bible speaks of five specific crowns that can be won in our walk and service for the Lord. I want to look at them this week. In our text we see the “Incorruptible Crown”. It is for one who keeps his life, keeps his body, keeps his mind in subjection to the Word of God and walks in obedience to God’s Word. The Holy Spirit used the Apostle Paul to write a great deal about Godly living and obedience to the Word of God. Paul took this very serious for even in his day he saw those who talked the talk but failed to walk the walk. God wants Christians not only to say the right things but do the right things. There are many things we will give up in this world if we are going to obey God’s Word, we all know that. With that before us, what we need to give up, God sets something before us, a crown that can be won. God will reward you for Godly living, for obedience in to Him in this world. When so many are claiming it doesn’t matter how one lives God says it does and God says it with a crown for incorruptible living.