How you doin? Today we read 1 Corinthians 9. This chapter reminded me of the sermon I heard from Eric Johnson on Sunday afternoon. The sermon was on loving people. I usually turn those sermons off because they highlight one of my biggest shortcomings.
Eric ended his sermon by pointing out that we need to gain favor with people in order to minister to them effectively. That we shouldn't stand some distance away from certain groups of people, such as "drinkers" or " the sexually immoral" or "gossips", throwing stones and condemnation at them and expect them to show us the favor it takes to extend love to them.
Paul says this very well in 1 Corinthians 9. Verse 19, "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." In the preceding verses, Paul speaks of his conviction to preach the gospel. He speaks of the rights that he forfeits to spread the good news and to bring the lost home to the Kingdom. Verses 20-23, "To 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. 21 To 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. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." WOW!!!!!!! Paul takes this seriously. He becomes like people he's not to win them for the Kingdom. What an incredible display of faith, trust, believe, and strength. Paul was confident enough that the Holy Ghost was going to protect him when entering into realms that were sinful. COME ON!!!!!!! Psalm 91 comes to mind. Galatians 5:7-12 really comes to mind. Please take time to look those Scriptures up today.
This reading today, including Psalm 91 and Galatians 5:7-12, really motivates me to love the unlovable. The Holy Ghost will protect me from the yeast of wickedness and deception that can spread throughout the body. He promises to do so. He doesn't lie or promise empty promises. I know in my sobriety, I needed people who could relate to me and more importantly love me. People who were willing to come along side of me knowing my sinfulness wasn't going to contaminate them. In the Old Testament it was believed that unclean things would contaminate clean things. Just by touching. Jesus proved that His new covenant and our redemption would reverse that believe. Jesus' power and authority, that is in us, overcame that believe. AWESOME!!!!!!! Jesus hung with the sinners and touch the sinners. COME ON!!!!!!! I know He touched and continues to touch me. YES & AMEN!!!!!!! Love some sinners today.
PS I love these revelations and conviction, but the application always comes later. Today it came later in this chapter. Verses 24-27 speak of running a race "in such a way as to get the prize" (v.24). "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training" (v.25). Entering my salvation with the intentions of "training"... that's a good word. The gift of salvation, the gift of being chosen, got me in the race/game. It's up to me to train and run "in such a way as to get the prize". The prize is "a crown that will last forever" (v.25). WOW!!!!!!! I'm getting charged up over here. COME ON!!!!!!!
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