Apostle Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians touched on an important subject I would love that we give a thorough examination. It’s not unusual for this great man of God to be very realistic in his writings. Paul is one man that I admire a lot. First, he is pragmatic. He’s a lawyer and a writer. He sounds a lot like a psychologist – studies the sect of Christians he’s addressing and tells them exactly what they need to hear.
The Apostle Paul sometimes sounds harsh, other times soft but always, he says the truth undiluted. I Cor 9: 27a “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection“. When you find a perfect Christian man/woman, please show me one. Paul touched deep on a very vital tenet a Christian should possess: self-control.
In Psalms 130:3, we read “If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord who shall stand?” There’s no such thing as a perfect Christian. It doesn’t exist. We all strive daily to meet the high standard God has laid for us. Paul emphasized this and made it crystal clear. In as much as he was a great man of God – a man that wrote 13 of the new testament books – who preached and converted so many gentiles, he was still human.
It’s no surprise that he penned it down in his own words – I keep it under my body. That’s discipline. Self-control. Self-restraint. Self-mastery. Abstention. Give it whatever name. And to bring it into subjection. Wonderful! Do you realize how difficult it is for one to subject one’s thoughts, imaginations, habits, ideas? It’s extremely painstaking. It’s however worth it. If you’re going to wear a crown, you have to bear some crosses such as this.
This subject is always shied away from. One other reason I love about Paul. Paul understood how much the flesh(body) and its lusts have to be brought under subjection and he made that a constant practice. He preached and lived by it. You and I have no other responsibility than to follow suit. You can’t live life the just way you love to. Yes, you can’t post what you feel like on your SM, or say what your flesh thinks. I really mean, you’ve got to learn to have the willpower to bring your body under obedience to the spirit of God.
The conclusion of that verse – I Cor 9:27b “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway“. If you think the first part doesn’t matter much, consider what the great Apostle said in the second. A castaway? Thrown away? Rejected? God forbid!!! No one ever would love to end their Christian race in such a manner. I encourage you today to bring those secret pains, fleshly lust, bad habits into subjection through the blood of Jesus and live a life that’s pleasing to our master and king.
God bless you
EGC 2021
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