IN THE WORD DAILY
with Brother Rick
1 Corinthians 9: 22
To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means
save some.
Since the the day that I
knocked on my first door as part of organized soul winning, I found out that it
takes something out of the ordinary to lead a person to someone they know
nothing about. Then I realized that we, as Christians, are out of the ordinary.
We are supposed to be different. We are supposed to be have something that others
will desire. We are supposed to portray the marks of Jesus our Lord, who was a
friend to sinners, a doctor to the sick, a healer of the blind, and encourager
to the weak, and a preacher to the lost. Here in this text, Paul gives us the
very reason that he is the greatest Christian that ever lived. Paul had the
ability to put himself on the same level as those he witnessed to, in order to
bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ.
The Bible tells us in 1
Corinthians 10: 23, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not
expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” Paul
understood that his ability to lead others to the Lord would hinge on his
willingness to put his liberties in Christ aside and live his life to edify and
encourage the weaker brother, and bring the lost to saving knowledge. In other
words, Paul never went around banging on doors, and pointing fingers to the
lost because of their lifestyle. Lost people do what they are supposed to do.
But Paul loved people, Paul encouraged people. Paul enlightened people. Paul
was a friend to sinners, just as Jesus was a friend to sinners. Bible
separation does not suggest that we lock ourselves away and forget about the
lost world. Bible separation suggests that we are in the world, but not part of
the world.
One thing that many of us
lack when trying to live for Jesus and lead others to the Savior is common
knowledge about the one who saved us. Paul had a story. If you notice in the
entire book of Acts, Paul told the story of his conversion over and over.
Whenever he was given the opportunity, he would give his testimony. When he was
lost and undone without Christ, Jesus came to him. When he was weak in spirit,
Christ would come to the rescue. When he needed provision, Jesus would supply
all his needs according to his riches in glory. Before Paul could be an
effective preacher and witness to the Gentiles, he had to live his testimony.
How can we tell someone about the love of God when we show no love toward the
lost? How can we tell someone about the mercy of God, when we show no mercy
toward others? How can we tell the lost that God gives peace that passes all
understanding, when we have no peace in our own lives? How can we tell a dying
world that God is love, and tear each other apart like animals? How can we
encourage others to be faithful, when we are part- timers? The answer to all of
these questions is an emphatic, “WE CAN'T”.
We need to learn that our
liberties are not for us to abuse. We are to use our gifts and abilities to
edify the body of Christ, and direct the lost to the Savior. Paul says, “If a
man was hurting, I hurt with him.” “If a man was hungry, I fed him”. “If a man
was cold, I clothed him”. “If a man was sick, I comforted him.” “If a man was
seeking knowledge, I became the teacher”. “If a man just needed a shoulder to
lean on, I became that shoulder.” “If a man needed to talk, I became the
listener”. “To the weak, became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I
am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.”
There is much more to being
an evangelical christian that sitting on the pew and writing a check.
Make yourself available to be
all things to all men. A saved soul could be the result.
