Introspection

10/25/2020

1 Corinthians 9:22 “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Chambers starts today’s devotional with, “A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s noble man or woman amid a crowd of ignoble things.” This statement hit me right between eyes. In our world today, there are so many ignoble things that it makes the head spin. How am I, in all this tumult and chaos, doing at being principled and moral? Do my actions and conversations reflect Jesus, or am I falling into despair, fear, and anger? I have noticed that even people of faith are allowing themselves to get pulled into some very alarming negativity. Chambers goes on, “Unless we have the right manner in our minds intellectually and in our hearts affectionately, we will be hustled out of usefulness for God.”

This morning, as part of the message from a series on 1 Peter, Pastor Brad spoke of guarding your mind by guarding what comes into it. Such an important thing for me, as a believer, to remember and meditate on daily. He asked us, the congregation, what kinds of things we “consume” during our free time. What do I give my time to, and does it glorify and honor God? Can people see Jesus’ love and mercy through me, or am I a poor ambassador for Him in this world?

Chambers adds that Paul’s entire heart and mind were consumed with what Jesus came to do: save our souls and repair the broken bridge to the Father. Paul never lost sight of this truth or his mission. Am I, like Paul, consumed with my Savior and the things of heaven, or am I consumed with earthly things? Am I a worker for God, and do I willingly surrender to Him working through me? I must ask myself in these tumultuous times, does my life glorify God? Am I using the freedom that I have found in Christ to be a slave to others?

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many people as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself are not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 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 law. 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. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”