DCLM Sincere Milk 11 April 2022 — The baton of faith
DCLM Sincere Milk 11 April 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The baton of faith
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TOPIC: THE BATON OF FAITH
TEXT : 1 CORINTHIANS 9:21-27
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 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.
Key Verse: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24).
MESSAGE
No one ever receives a baton and begins to run backwards. Anyone who does that will definitely fail to achieve success. The baton race stands for continuity which means the ability to pass on the baton effortlessly and with determination, till the finish line is attained.
Jesus Christ our Lord and Master began the race of seeking and saving lost sinners through the shedding of His blood on the Cross at Calvary and preaching the good news of the kingdom. When His appointed time came, He passed the baton of the gospel to His disciples and went to heaven.
The apostles did not bury the baton, they ran with it and accomplished great things for the kingdom. One by one, the disciples finished their races and are in heaven now. In the course of their races, they also handed the baton to the Church. This baton of the gospel message has passed on to believers from generation to generation.
Now, the baton is in your hand! What are you doing with it? Do not allow it to lie idle or fall off. Hold it tightly and run the race of faith till Jesus comes to take you to your reward. Running with the baton of faith demands that you live a holy life and uphold God’s righteous standard in this wicked and corrupt world.
Shine forth as light for others to see your good works and glorify God, be watchful and prayerful, resist the devil, abstain from all appearances of sin, and go everywhere preaching the gospel in season and out of season till the Master comes.
Prayer: Please Lord, help me to run my race successfully to the end.
Further Reading: Jude 1:3
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
