BIBLE PASSAGE:
Though I am free and belong to no one,
I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
(1 Corinthians 9:19)
MEDITATION:
There are three basic reasons for obedience.
A slave obeys because he has to;
an employee obeys because he needs to;
but a loving son obeys because he wants to.
Too many of us live like servants or slaves, even though Jesus has said,
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s
business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)
What has Jesus made known to us?
Think about the primary reason He came to earth in human form.
He didn’t come to attend worship services
(although He was often in the synagogues).
He didn’t come to heal people (although He healed many).
He didn’t come to cast out demons (although He did cast them out).
The main reason Jesus walked among men was to tell everyone the “good news”.
He wanted everyone to know of the Heavenly Father’s love for them,
and His merciful plan of salvation available to all.
He learned this from the Father and has made it known to all His followers.
The question we should ask ourselves is, “What am I doing with this knowledge?”
In other words, “What am I doing for the Lord?”
We aren’t talking about those things that are expected
of believers (worship attendance, prayer, giving, praising the Lord, etc.).
The question is, “What am I doing outside of those expectations?”
Paul loved the freedom he received as a follower of Christ and made a
conscious decision to use the gifts God had given him to point others to Christ.
In Paul’s case, God called him to be a traveling missionary.
He took this responsibility seriously
and remained determined in spite of the problems he faced as a result.
God has called each believer to a specific area of service, based on His
knowledge of the spiritual gifts, personalities and capabilities He has given us.
Like Paul, we have to make a decision
of what we will do with what He has given us.
ACTION:
How would you respond to the question,
“What are you doing for the Lord that is above the things expected of believers?”
How often have you gone out of your way to minister to the needs
of someone else (encouragement, listening, helping, etc.)?
Have you made yourself a servant of the Lord for reaching others?
Our acts of kindness and concern could open a door of opportunity for
sharing the good news with that person, or someone who knows that person.
Pause for a moment and think about the things Jesus did
and the abilities God has given you to participate in His ministry.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedom You have given me as
a follower of Christ! Forgive me if I have failed to do anything with
the blessing of salvation You have given me. Help me to discover ways
to interact with others, which will give me opportunities for sharing the
good news of salvation (as Jesus did). Teach me how to become a person
who looks for the good in others, and one who finds opportunities to
encourage and lift their spirits. Forgive me for the times I have ignored
the needs of others, and make me more sensitive to those who need
encouragement (those who are down, the brokenhearted, and those who
are dedicated to serving You in the areas You have chosen for them).”
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