Daily Bread 11-14-17

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

ref. - Gal 2:7 - But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.

Ph 1:17 - But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Many men who preach the gospel try to act out or portray a type of holy men, who do no wrong and have never done wrong. If we look a the example of Paul we will see that he was given all the power to do just as the rest but he was also given a different calling. He was not called to reach out to the perfect and the holy, God's chosen ones, he was called to reach out to the Gentile, the sinner. He admits that inside himself he was bound to this call, and of by his own will he would pick something else, but he knew what God had called him to and he knew where he needed to remain. In this chapter it says that he was able to become all things to all people for the sake of dispensation of the gospel. This meaning that he had experienced many things and had gone through many rough and many smooth times. He had been at the bottom of the pile as well as at the top of the heap. But he knew that in all things that he had experienced and would experience, all that he would endure, that it would prove useful in helping other draw closer to God in Jesus Christ. As long as he remained in God's understanding,he would be given more. If he used his own, he would be given the reverence of men and not God. Today, we see men of God go through things in their lives just as other humans and we think, "oh, they must have done something wrong to be punished." This couldn't be further from the truth. These men now do not speak from something that they read but something that they have experienced. Many will listen who had not listened before because the are hearing someone who has gone through what they are going through. these men could go and be successful at any other thing but they know that they are bound to what god has called them to. Knowing that when they wander or when they stumble, that they are punished in their souls. They are tormented inside their inner being. Not all are called to this because not all were created for the same thing. But make no mistake, the calling of Paul was an important calling and he knew it. He did not go around trying to break the rules or put himself in bad situations. He did not go and ask them to cast him into prison, but no matter what he faced he remained faithful in his calling of spreading the gospel. He remained pure to God and God brought him through. He accepted that times were going to be rough some times and that not always would he have the approval of everyone. This is why the reference tells us that Paul had not been given the calling to bring the gospel to the circumcision so, therefore, Peter, was given that calling and put in that position. What it all boils down to is that if we understand the scripture then we will understand that even Paul, who had been a sinner and a saint, and even Peter, who had almost always had to be put back in line, understood their place and what God had called them to do. Today, we must follow the leads of these men and fall into line behind this great and mighty gospel that was shown to us, first in the mount, and then perfected for us by Jesus Christ. God has something special for each of us and it is very unique. Let's not go and try to get or have what someone else has already been given even if it does look more attractive or less burdensome. No, let us embrace our own callings and work with our own hands the responsibility that we have been put in front of. Let us work these things with love, faith, perseverance, diligence, and hope, that once we have completed this short journey on earth, we will be called home to where we were meant to be! Have a great day!!!