DAY 322 Read 1 Corinthians 9 through 11.
Today's reading: Again and again the apostle points to control of the physical body as an important part of maintaining spiritual health.
Memory gem: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Thought for today:
Real temperance is absolute abstinence from all that is evil, and the moderate and proper use of that which is good. Self-discipline is essential to temporal achievement in this world.
"Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:25). Those who succeeded in winning the laurel crown of victory at the Olympic games were temperate in their eating and drinking. They took the right kind of exercise. They did this to obtain an earthly crown which would soon fade away. But how much more necessary it is for us in our spiritual quest, as the apostle reminds us in verse 25: "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."
Let me say this: We are not going to have perfect temperance by merely shutting off intoxicating drinks, bad as they are. We must start by civilizing the kitchen. As Henry Ward Beecher said, "We must apply scientific wisdom and knowledge to the department of cookery. Bad cooking is a perpetual temptation to drink." We are not to be indifferent to the health of the body. We are not to deceive ourselves into thinking that intemperance is no sin and will not affect our spirituality. Yes, eating wisely is a part of temperate living. And after all is said and done, temperance must begin in our thinking. States of mind and prevailing habits of thought register themselves in bodily, as well as moral, conditions. Right thinking leads to health. Right thinking leads to happiness. Right thinking leads to God, "for as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he," declares the Holy Word in Proverbs 23:7. Therefore, we appeal to you, friend, in the words of Holy Writ: "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober" (1 Peter 1:13).
Then the fruits of true temperance will be in your life, will be seen in you wholly--spirit, soul, and body.
----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
1 Corinthians 10:25. "Shambles"--the public market.
Today's reading: Again and again the apostle points to control of the physical body as an important part of maintaining spiritual health.
Memory gem: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Thought for today:
Real temperance is absolute abstinence from all that is evil, and the moderate and proper use of that which is good. Self-discipline is essential to temporal achievement in this world.
"Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:25). Those who succeeded in winning the laurel crown of victory at the Olympic games were temperate in their eating and drinking. They took the right kind of exercise. They did this to obtain an earthly crown which would soon fade away. But how much more necessary it is for us in our spiritual quest, as the apostle reminds us in verse 25: "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."
Let me say this: We are not going to have perfect temperance by merely shutting off intoxicating drinks, bad as they are. We must start by civilizing the kitchen. As Henry Ward Beecher said, "We must apply scientific wisdom and knowledge to the department of cookery. Bad cooking is a perpetual temptation to drink." We are not to be indifferent to the health of the body. We are not to deceive ourselves into thinking that intemperance is no sin and will not affect our spirituality. Yes, eating wisely is a part of temperate living. And after all is said and done, temperance must begin in our thinking. States of mind and prevailing habits of thought register themselves in bodily, as well as moral, conditions. Right thinking leads to health. Right thinking leads to happiness. Right thinking leads to God, "for as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he," declares the Holy Word in Proverbs 23:7. Therefore, we appeal to you, friend, in the words of Holy Writ: "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober" (1 Peter 1:13).
Then the fruits of true temperance will be in your life, will be seen in you wholly--spirit, soul, and body.
----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
1 Corinthians 10:25. "Shambles"--the public market.
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