2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Nehemiah 7:73-9:21 ESV, 1 Corinthians 9:1-18 ESV, Psalm 33:12-22 ESV, Proverbs 21:11-12 ESV
Daily Verse: “Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.” (1 Corinthians 9:10 ESV)
ALOAO (248): “To tread out grain: tread out the corn, thresh.”[i]
Tread out.
Paul continues to answer the Corinthian’s questions, referring to getting paid for his work. According to the Law of Moses, Paul can receive payment, but he chooses not for the gospel’s sake.
Sharing in the work gives us hope for sharing in the reward. As we engage with people in our lives, sharing and glorifying Christ, hopefully, they will begin to seek Him. When people start looking for Jesus, they will find Him. No better crop exists than the kingdom crop.
Thresh hopefully.
When people thresh out corn or wheat, they repeat the tedious process until they finish the job. Living for Christ means loving on repeat. Unfortunately, many people struggle to receive love. Life’s circumstances harden their hearts, turning them cynical about any acts of kindness.
In 8th grade, we moved to DuBois, PA. Angry at my parents for taking me from where I loved, I refused to make friends and hid in my room for a year. When a young boy approached me, showing me kindness, I snapped back at him; sure he had ulterior motives. My young mind and heart couldn’t accept the friendship he offered.
When people strike back, don’t take it personally. Understand that they have hidden struggles. Instead of a heart ready to receive the love God offers, they’ve hardened it. Only with repeated acts of love will they begin to soften.
Pray for the people in your life who struggle to receive love that their hearts will begin to soften. Like threshing wheat, continue to love them, despite their reactions. Just like I remember the young boy who offered me kindness, acts of love impact others’ lives. You may not see the results immediately, but stay hopeful; one day, you will.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 15) Thomas Nelson
