Most people would agree that it's a good thing to care about others. To give to people in need. To feed and clothe the homeless. To pray for those that are hurting.
In today's reading, the Apostle Paul reveals his desire to meet people's greatest need.
If necessary, he's willing to make himself a "slave to everyone."
If necessary, he's prepared to "become weak" in order to help those that are weak.
If necessary, he's willing to "become all things to all men" in order to rescue others.
If necessary, he's putting himself through "strict training" so that he is ready whenever he's needed.
I wonder how the world would be different if all Christ-followers had a similar level of commitment.
I wonder how my church would be different if we shared Paul's intensity and sacrifice for the sake of reaching people who are far from God.
I wonder how my neighborhood would be different if I seized opportunities every day to make connections with them - to "become all things to all men" for the sake of someday sharing the GREAT NEWS about Jesus.
If you approach God in prayer, and tell Him honestly, "God, I'm yours..." If you do this on a regular basis, you're eventually going to love Jesus and desire to serve Him on every possible occasion. You'll take up His mission to seek and save people who are far from God. You'll embrace the kind of passion and focus Paul has, with a willingness to do whatever it takes to win others to faith in Christ.
Here's a question for you...
What person in your life went out of his (or her) way to share Jesus with you? What friend has really helped you see more clearly the good news, the amazing love that God has given to you? I'd be interested to hear any stories (in the 'comments' link below) about how God has used someone else in your life to help you grow closer to Him!
Dear God,
Open my eyes to see the people around me, and recognize how they need You in their lives. Open my mind to think about ways to connect with them, serve them, encourage them, talk with them, build a real friendship with them. Open my heart to ways that I can represent the lifestyle and compassion and joy that Jesus Christ himself would demonstrate with others.
Make me willing - like Paul - to become a servant to all... even to enter "strict training" because I know that the most important thing I do is to represent Jesus to other people whenever I can.
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