Daily Devotional. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Paul is Encouraging Believers to fight the GOoD Fight, and don’t give up. This is not only about just Preaching the Word and telling others what they should do, no, this is ALL about the Preacher LIVING IN THE WORD HE IS PREACHING TO OTHERS. Not only should he Preach, for example, Thou shalt not steal, but he himself shouldn’t even “steal a glance” of a pretty girl walking down the street. It says in the Bible, “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain”. Exodus 20:7. This not only talks about swearing, “God D##n”, when something doesn’t go the way you want, it’s also telling the Preacher, don’t you dare call yourself a “Christian” and you don’t believe the Lord when He tells you something He wants you to say or do. And yes, there are many people out there who are driven by the love of money, they Preach what the congregation wants to hear, (smooth and easy messages), AND THEY THEMSELVES DON’T KNOW THE LORD. They don’t know the Lord, but they cover themselves with the banner of “Christian” and tell you to not judge them if you see a fault. Again, Paul is saying, don’t just Preach the Infallible Word of God, but to LIVE IN THAT WORD WAY BETTER THAN YOU PREACH IT. Don’t give lost people ANY opportunity to point a finger at you and call you a hypocrite for not doing what you’re telling them THEY should do. Hold yourself up to the Gold Standard first, and then they will forever, Be Blessed.