DAY 4 UNTIL REVIVE

DAY 4

FREEDOM

It’s happened so many times that I’ve lost count. God will lay a scripture on my heart and within the next week I’ll hear someone speak using that same scripture. Sometimes I think God is confirming my thoughts. Today I believe I’ve received a confirmation.

The scripture I refer to is written by Paul. To me, Paul would be a difficult guy for me to hang with, day in and day out. One minute it seems that he is bragging, the next humbling. I can envision him boasting about his accomplishments on the inhale while confessing his weaknesses on the exhale. One thing about reading Paul’s anointed writings is that you must be careful not to take his words out of context. It’s like listening to a conversation and watching TV at the same time – chances are you’re going to misconstrue the message. The following text requires this same attention.

1 Corinthians 9:19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To 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. 21To 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. 22To 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. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul states that “I am free.” The preceding verses of Chapter 9 explain Paul’s freedom in Christ. No longer living under the law, Paul is free from the law and free from the bondage of sin. He is also free to enjoy the blessings of living under Christ’s law, which would be the law of grace, which you and I also live under. Yet every time Paul begins to tell us of his freedom, he turns and changes direction. While he is free in so many ways, he never uses his freedom for personal gain. The reason – every motive of Paul’s heart is outward, in order that he might win a few for Christ.

Paul became like those he would witness to. He would live like a Jew when in the presence of Jews, keeping their customs and being careful not to break their laws (which he knew very well, being a former Jew himself). When talking to those who were weak (those who could not live up to the law), Paul would show his own weakness.

While bending to the life styles of those he preached to, Paul would never get caught in disobedience to Jesus Christ. One could derive that Paul would become a drunkard in order to reach the drunkard or that he would become a criminal in order to reach the criminal. Not at all. Paul is simply telling us that he is willing to put all his personal freedom aside – in order that some might believe in Jesus Christ.

You and I are free from the law. Yet so often, I hear men preaching in judgment of everyone who does not believe exactly as they do. But Paul’s example shows that we are not in the business of judging and condemning. We are in the business of saving some. We are on a mission of reaching the lost, not denouncing them. The lost condemn themselves. We are to be the light of Christ.

I’ve describe it to my students like this. When I’m on retreat or at camp with them, I might act pretty goofy. But when I’m at work and managing those people under my authority, I must act in a different manner. That’s not living hypocritically. It’s being all things to all people, so that some might be saved.

Are you willing to be a slave to everyone around you? Are you willing to try and be all things to all men? Are you willing to try all possible means to win some? Remember the result – you will share in the blessings of the gospel that you spread. And what greater blessings are there?

God Bless,

Jody