Costume Change

Read It:  1 Corinthians 9:16-23

16 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. 19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20 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 I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Learn It:

What an interesting conversation Paul is having here.  I always like to tell people to be true to themselves.  Don't change because God has called you just as you are to do the work with the gifts you already have.  Paul, however, seems to say that we (or maybe he's just speaking about himself and not necessarily to us) need to be all things to all people.  It would be as if we needed to act like a politician to be able to have politicians understand us. Or we need to act and think like a small business owner to get through to small business owners.  Now I'm not sure if Paul is saying this but it reminds me of Martin Luther's great saying that we need to 'sin boldly'.  The whole reason Luther said that was so that through our sinning the grace of God might work even harder in the world.  I think there might be some connection here but I think the whole point of Paul's talk here is to say that we need to go and interact with other people so that they too might be saved through the Gospel.  

Share It:

What are some ways that you might be able to do things differently so that you can fit in with people that you might not normally hang out with?  What are some creative ways that you can come up with as a family that could help you share the story of Jesus with other people?  What are some creative or new ways that you have experienced the Gospel shared with you or that you have seen?  Come up with some solid ideas and ways that could help you be 'all things to all people' so that you can share God's love.  

Live It:

This week simply try one of the plans you came up with to share the Gospel with someone that is different from you.  See how maybe thinking like them might help you share God's love with them.  

P.S. Sorry the weekly devotionals haven't been up.  We lost internet the other week and this being internet only it got put aside and forgotten about...but now it's back!