OCTOBER 7 - LIMITING FREEDOM
READ 1 Corinthians 9
Paul limits his freedom for the sake of other Christians.
INSIGHT
Spiritual maturity is not a product of human effort. The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit, not of self-effort. Yet God will not grant spiritual maturity to us unless we are striving for it. Paul says, "I run . . . not with uncertainty. I fight . . . not as one who beats the air. I discipline my body . . . " in pursuit of spiritual goals (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). The reality is that few of us have the spiritual passion to equal the temporal passion of the unsaved. It is a challenge to care about the same things God cares about—a challenge we must accept!
PRAYER
Praise God that His work of sanctification (becoming more like Christ) continues in your life:
May the Lord add to your numbers,
Both yours and your children’s.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
The heavens are the Lord’s,
But the earth he has given to the human race.
It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
Nor any of those descending into the silence of death.
But we will bless the Lord, both now and forever.
Hallelujah! (Psalm 115:14-18).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
“The Lord of Armies says this:
‘Make fair decisions.
Show faithful love and compassion to one another.
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The resident alien or the poor,
And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’
(Zechariah 7:9-10).
As you confess your sins, pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I will give thanks to you
Because you have answered me
And have become my salvation
(Psalm 118:21).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts (Colossians 3:15-16).
Paul limits his freedom for the sake of other Christians.
INSIGHT
Spiritual maturity is not a product of human effort. The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit, not of self-effort. Yet God will not grant spiritual maturity to us unless we are striving for it. Paul says, "I run . . . not with uncertainty. I fight . . . not as one who beats the air. I discipline my body . . . " in pursuit of spiritual goals (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). The reality is that few of us have the spiritual passion to equal the temporal passion of the unsaved. It is a challenge to care about the same things God cares about—a challenge we must accept!
PRAYER
Praise God that His work of sanctification (becoming more like Christ) continues in your life:
May the Lord add to your numbers,
Both yours and your children’s.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
The heavens are the Lord’s,
But the earth he has given to the human race.
It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
Nor any of those descending into the silence of death.
But we will bless the Lord, both now and forever.
Hallelujah! (Psalm 115:14-18).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
“The Lord of Armies says this:
‘Make fair decisions.
Show faithful love and compassion to one another.
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The resident alien or the poor,
And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’
(Zechariah 7:9-10).
As you confess your sins, pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I will give thanks to you
Because you have answered me
And have become my salvation
(Psalm 118:21).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Purity of mind
- Your spiritual goals
- Today's activities
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts (Colossians 3:15-16).
A Dogwood Church Discipleship Ministry Resource. © Walk Thru the Bible 2025.