As we gear up for next week’s 幸福小组 (xing fu xiao zu) training, God reminded me of Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” This is a timely reminder for all of us. There are two parts of this verse that I’d like to draw our attention to.
The first is “save some”. Some might wonder, what are we saving some from? The wrath of God! As Romans 5:9 tells us, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
The second is “all things to all people”. What Apostle Paul was teaching the Corinthian believers was to be open to others from different cultures and ways of living so that they could share their beliefs with them too. In the earlier verses, Paul shared that he was willing to deny himself and give up his rights in order to reach people with the gospel, because the supreme objective of his life was salvation of souls. This is why he began this section on becoming “all things to all people” by saying in verse 19, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” We see from this verse that what Apostle Paul was saying has to do with restricting himself for the sake of others, to save them from the wrath of God.
Dear family, the success of the Great Commission is dependent upon us, on our obedience to share this good news that God has entrusted to us, appropriately and clearly. As we’ve learnt from 1 Corinthians 9:22, we must also be flexible like Apostle Paul. Where possible, we should try to fit in and flow with the culture of our “best”, so that by all means, we may save more! But even in doing so, our behaviour must not contradict nor be incompatible with our Lord’s teachings. Let us consciously apply this verse whenever we share Jesus’ love with our colleagues, relatives and friends!
- Senior Pastor Nina Khong