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Corinthians 9:16–27—St Paul boasts,
not of himself, but of the Gospel. What a privilege it is for him, and all of
us, to proclaim the Good News of salvation in Christ Jesus! He cannot but go
out to all—Jew, Gentile, weak, strong—and proclaim the forgiveness that belongs
to all men through the merits of Christ.
Out of divine necessity Paul preaches, and to win
people to Christ he identifies with them.
In this chapter Paul defends his ministry against those who condemn him
for not taking pay from his churches, for”the
laborer is worthy of his hire.”
Paul was economically independent by working as a
tent-maker. Paul explains that he preaches out of necessity, for he was called
to preach. He performs out of this commission and not for monetary
remuneration. This had made him free
from being obligated to men and made him free to be all things to all men in
the hope of winning them to Christ.
Today we pray for the church and her pastors; for
teachers, deaconesses, and other church workers; for missionaries and for all
who serve the Church; for fruitful and salutary use of the blessed Sacrament of
Christ’ body and blood.
Let
us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people
according to their needs. For
the faithful proclamation of Christ, our King, and for the strengthening of
God’s people in this true faith and their
baptismal life in Christ.
Gracious
Lord, enrich Your saints in every way. Encourage the preachers of Your Word and
all who hear, that the testimony about Christ may be confirmed again among us.
Give boldness and faithfulness to Matthew,
our Synod president; Daniel,
our district
president; Shayne,
our circuit visitor; and all pastors in Christ.
As You have called us into the fellowship of Your Son, so sustain us as we wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for a right reception of the true body and blood of Christ, for grace to use well what we receive here in Christ’s name, and for the day when no division of doctrine and faith will hinder our communion together at the Lord’s altar, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.[1]
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