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www.truthworks.com 7 OCT 03 devotion archive send this page to a friend |
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FREEDOM I tell you the Truth, It’s happened so many times that
I’ve lost count. God will lay a scripture on my heart and within the
next week I’ll hear someone speak using that same scripture. Sometimes I
think God is confirming my thoughts. Today I believe I’ve received a
confirmation. The scripture I refer to is written by Paul. To me, Paul would be a difficult guy for me to hang with, day in and day out. One minute it seems that he is bragging, the next humbling. I can envision him boasting about his accomplishments on the inhale while confessing his weaknesses on the exhale. One thing about reading Paul’s anointed writings is that you must be careful not to take his words out of context. It’s like listening to a conversation and watching TV at the same time – chances are you’re going to misconstrue the message. The following text requires this same attention. 1 Corinthians 9: Paul states that “I am free.”
The preceding verses of Chapter 9 explain Paul’s freedom in Christ. No
longer living under the law, Paul is free from the law and free from the bondage
of sin. He is also free to enjoy the blessings of living under Christ’s
law, which would be the law of grace, which you and I also live under. Yet
every time Paul begins to tell us of his freedom, he turns and changes
direction. While he is free in so many ways, he never uses his freedom for
personal gain. The reason – every motive of Paul’s heart is outward,
in order that he might win a few for Christ. Paul became like those he would witness
to. He would live like a Jew when in the presence of Jews, keeping their
customs and being careful not to break their laws (which he knew very well,
being a former Jew himself). When talking to those who were weak (those
who could not live up to the law), Paul would show his own weakness. While bending to the life styles of
those he preached to, Paul would never get caught in disobedience to Jesus
Christ. One could derive that Paul would become a drunkard in order to
reach the drunkard or that he would become a criminal in order to reach the
criminal. Not at all. Paul is simply telling us that he is willing
to put all his personal freedom aside – in order that some might believe in
Jesus Christ. You and I are free from the law.
Yet so often, I hear men preaching in judgment of everyone who does not believe
exactly as they do. But Paul’s example shows that we are not in the
business of judging and condemning. We are in the business of saving some.
We are on a mission of reaching the lost, not denouncing them. The lost
condemn themselves. We are to be the light of Christ. I’ve describe it to my students like
this. When I’m on retreat or at
camp with them, I might act pretty goofy. But
when I’m at work and managing those people under my authority, I must act in a
different manner. That’s not
living hypocritically. It’s being
all things to all people, so that some might be saved. Are you willing to be a slave to
everyone around you? Are you willing to try and be all things to all men?
Are you willing to try all possible means to win some? Remember the result
– you will share in the blessings of the gospel that you spread. And
what greater blessings are there?
Your Servant,
<*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Prayer Requests (and Praises!) Thank you to all who were
in prayer this past week for our youth retreat.
I’m excited to report that I witnessed a move of God like I haven’t
seen in some time. I was blessed and
I know many of our students found a fresh word and lots of healing.
Continue to pray for us as we come down from the mountain and bring this
fresh word back to the valley. Please reply if you have prayer requests, comments or simply need an open ear. I always enjoy hearing from you. <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Copyright © 2003 Truth Works Publishing. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise specified, all scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV.
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