Title: Free to Serve Others / Topic: Evangelism

Today's Reading: Psalm 122; 1 Corinthians 9; 1 Corinthians 10; 1 Corinthians 11

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Observation: Paul freely chooses to make himself a slave to others in order to win them to Jesus. Now that's commitment! He cared so much for others that he would limit his freedoms in order to fit in and relate to those he was witnessing to about God. He built bridges of commonality with people not to be a “people-pleaser” but so that they would trust him and hopefully receive the gift of salvation.

Application: I remember the story of missionaries who were from Los Angeles and went to the backwoods of Cajun country in Louisiana to minister the gospel. The first thing they were confronted with was the “gift” of a boiled pig's head, complete with hair and eyeballs staring at them. It stunk and made them feel like retching but they knew that if they wanted to build connection with these people, they would have to graciously eat this gift with gratitude, as it was considered a local delicacy. They loved these uneducated, backwoods people to put aside their freedom to choose to eat what appealed to their cosmopolitan tastes in order to create a connection that would allow them to bring salvation to those dear souls. Are we willing to do the same?

Prayer: Father, help us to be willing to give u our freedom to please ourselves in order to serve others in a way that opens them to your love, forgiveness and salvation. We will have an eternity to celebrate with you and have all our desires met. How wonderful it will be to look around at the wedding feast of our Lord in heaven and see others who are there because we became their “slaves” in order to get them there. What joy!
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.