Everything is an Opportunity
Everything is an Opportunity
Today we are going to be jumping around to several places in scripture but our primary text is going to be 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. (Here Paul is saying that he is free from all – Jesus is his only Lord – but he chooses to see himself as others servants for the express purpose of wining them to Christ) 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. (Paul is not saying he shouldn’t obey the commands of the Lord – he is referencing old Jewish law that Christians are no longer under. Things like circumcision, not eating certain meats, etc. are no longer things he must follow but he will if it means he can lead someone who does observe those laws to Jesus) 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. (Again, Paul is not saying he will act immorally, he saying that to the gentiles who don’t observe the law he will adapt to their ways – as long as they don’t go against Christ – in order to reach them.) 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.”
The general idea here is that Paul will use anything as long as it isn’t sinful to win the lost. He sees himself as belonging to others for the purpose of bringing them to Christ. We see a few examples of this throughout scripture.
In Acts 8 the Lord leads a man named Philip to the side of a road when an Ethiopian court official comes by in his chariot. Philip sees that he is studying scripture – the prophecy of Isaiah to be exact. Philip asks if he understands what he is reading and the Ethiopian invites Philip to explain it to him. Look at Acts 8:35, “Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.”This is excellent-we meet people where they are at and start from wherever they are and tell them the good news of Jesus. It is our task to use everything to get people to Jesus – this is not manipulation because Jesus is connected to everything. The next verse the Ethiopian is baptized.
Look at Acts 16 Paul wants to take Timothy with him to minister the Gospel but Timothy was a gentile. So Paul encourages Timothy to get circumcised! Now this is a big deal because in Galatians Paul preaches that Christians don’t need to be circumcised anymore – that it has nothing to do with salvation and if you think it does you are lost. But here we see Timothy do this, not for salvation but rather so the Jews Timothy is preaching to will hear him. All things to all people.
In Acts 17 Paul is in Athens and where there are many idols. He doesn’t condemn the idols or get offended by them! He finds one that is an alter to the unknown God and he uses that to teach them about Jesus. He even quotes some secular philosophers in his sermon.
Why am I saying all of this? Because we need to use everything to spread the Gospel, even this!
Right now, people are scared. Everything – their health, wealth, government and more are at risk. People are looking for something real and stable and reliable to build their foundations on and you and I know there is only One who can be that for them!
So be all things to all people! Don’t get offended by non-christians acting like non-christians find ways to meet them where they are at and talk to them about Christ.
In this time, I want to encourage you to think of at least one unchurched friend – co-worker, neighbor, friend, family member – and reach out to them. You don’t have to preach the gospel – just let them know you’re thinking of them, that you care. See where it takes you!
Comments
Post a Comment