Don't Lose Your Dedication

Daily Scripture Threshing for Saturday, January 25, 2025

Today's Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:25 (ESV): "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."

As we meditate on Apostle Paul's admonition to Corinthian Christians, I feel moved by the life of David Livingstone, the pioneer missionary to Africa, who walked over 29,000 miles, sharing Christ from one antique location to another. His wife died early in their ministry and he faced stiff opposition from his Scottish brethern. He ministered half blind. His kind of perseverance should spur today's Christians on. We should remember the words in his diary: Send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever me from any tie but the tie that binds me to Your service and to Your heart.

Have you ever felt like giving up on your goals and aspirations? Like the odds are stacked against you, and no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to break through? I believe that one of Livingstone's reason for unwavering dedication is this apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians. The apostle uses the illustration of an athlete to encourage believers to persevere in their pursuit of spiritual goals. Just as an athlete exercises self-control and discipline to win a perishable prize, we must be willing to deny ourselves, discipline our lives, and never lose our dedication to receive an imperishable reward.

We have been called to persevere in our pursuit of goals. Paul encourages us to run the race with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on the prize. To keep dedicated, we must exercise self-control and discipline. Just as an athlete must discipline their body to win, we must discipline our lives to achieve our spiritual goals. We must keep our eyes on the imperishable prize, bearing in mind that our ultimate reward is not earthly or temporary, but eternal and imperishable.

Action Steps: Pray for perseverance. Ask God to give you the strength and the spirit of endurance. Set clear goals. Identify what you want to achieve and create a plan to get there. Exercise self-control. Discipline your life and habits to align with your goals.

Quote for the Day: "Dedication is both a lifestyle and a lifetime call. It is not a single event. It is a progressive and continuous process of giving your best to achieve greatness." (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You today, asking for the spirit of dedication and commitment. Help me to stay focused and motivated, even when challenges arise. Give me the strength and endurance to persevere. Help me to prioritize my goals and commitments, and to stay dedicated to what You have called me to do. When distractions come, give me the discernment to recognize them and the discipline to stay on track. Let me not lose my dedication and commitment. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on the prize, and to remember that my labor is not in vain. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may be empowered to stay dedicated and committed to Your will. Give me the courage to continue, even when the journey gets tough — in Jesus's most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for being part of this journey. For additional reading on today's meditation, read: 1 Corinthians 9; Psalm 119; and Proverbs 25.

Read the Bible Through in One Year Plan: Genesis 29-30; Matthew 10; and Psalm 10.

Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide written for free distribution and edification of churches, homes, and individuals. For inquiries, free counseling, or deliverance, please, write or visit: The Darling Bishop, 2321 S Beltline Rd Suite 144 Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA.

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With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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