Tag: win some
Sharing Gospel blessings!
Scripture reading for August 11th: 1st Corinthians 9, Psalm 10, Proverbs 5
1st Corinthians 9:19-23 “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
After finding Jesus Christ as Lord, Paul was a free man from the law of God. Jesus had taken the penalty for his (and our) sins and given him the Holy Spirit and the law of Christ which is love. Paul became a willing bond-servant of God, offering his own self as a witness and preacher of the Good News to win lost people to God. He sought to find a way to relate to each person in order to share the Good News. His focus was their salvation, regardless of their background or religious upbringing. He knew God’s heart of compassion for hurting and oppressed people and for the sake of the Gospel allowed the Holy Spirit to use him for their healing and deliverance through faith in Jesus.
Psalm 10:17-18 “O Lord, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may not strike terror no more.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for hearing the cries of the afflicted and hurting, the fatherless and oppressed and acting for them by sending Your Son. Thank You that You see all of our ways and ponder all our paths that You might win us to You by sending servants like Paul. Fill me with Your compassion and love and send me today to those in need of Your grace. Pour out Your blessings through the Gospel!
Proverbs 5:21 “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.”
Running to win!
Scripture reading for July 17th: 1st Corinthians 9
Some people at Corinth were questioning the methods of Paul and Barnabas as apostles of Christ. Paul was trying to help them understand how in his freedom in Christ, he sought to serve all men in order to reach them with the Gospel. He and Barnabas certainly had their ‘rights’ to earn a living from preaching the Gospel. Those that were helped or converted should give support to those who minister. “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” (Deuteronomy 25:4; 1st Corinthians 9:9)
But Paul chose to limit his freedoms and rights so as not to hinder the Gospel message. “But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.” (1st Corinthians 9:12) Paul preached the gospel voluntarily because of his calling from Christ. He wanted to offer it free of charge instead of receiving support. “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. . . . I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1st Corinthians 9:22-23) God would repay him and the souls saved would be his reward!
Paul likened his life as a missionary to a man running in a race. “Do you know that in a race all the runners urn, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!” (1st Corinthians 9:24) The prize for Paul was a crown of life that would last forever! He would run the race of faithful preaching to win the ultimate prize! Are you running to win in your race?