Flexible for Christ
I am a free man, nobody’s slave; but I make myself everybody’s slave in order to win as many people as possible. While working with the Jews, I live like a Jew in order to win them; and even though I myself am not subject to the Law of Moses, I live as though I were when working with those who are, in order to win them. In the same way, when working with Gentiles, I live like a Gentile, outside the Jewish Law, in order to win Gentiles. This does not mean that I don’t obey God’s law; I am really under Christ’s law. (verses 19-21)
I admire the Christian who is unbending for the truth, who can stand firm against the flow of popular opinions and viewpoints. St Paul was like that. He didn’t budge from the truth of the gospel committed to him by Christ.
But while Paul was unbending for the truth, he bent over backwards for his listeners. While his message could not be changed, Paul himself was willing to change. He let go of his own personal preferences and customs in order to win people over for Christ. He yielded and adapted himself to them so that nothing would get in the way of the good news. And he did so because this was the approach of Jesus himself. The Son of God became like us-even taking on our sin-so that we could be won for God.
Consider what personal preferences you can let go of, so that Christ can be shared more freely with those around you.
Lord, you became like me in order to save me. Give me humility and help me to let go of self-interest so that I can better share your gospel with others. Amen.
by Contributing Author, in ‘Direction for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)
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