whatever it takes.
Posted by phil
Ask yourself: are you willing to do whatever it takes to see people come to Christ?
Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Think about verse 19.
What did Paul mean when he said he made himself a slave to everyone?
What’s difficult about that idea?
How do verses 20-22 apply to your life today? How have you become like others in order to show them Christ’s love?
When have you NOT followed these instructions? What happened?
How do Paul’s instructions relate to how Jesus lived His life? Explain.
Is there anything you should NOT do or say in order to share Christ with others? Why or why not?
This was a difficult passage for me when I was in high school. I was taught that I was to be different from others to demonstrate God’s work in my life. Yet these verses seemed to say I should act like others.
Yes, relationships with unbelievers are necessary in order to share God’s love, but not at the expense of living a life that’s pleasing to God.
So how do we balance? Jesus showed us how. He was in constant relationship with God. Jesus’ inner circle was a group of men who yearned to love God more. But Jesus also spent time with so-called sinners. He ate with them; He talked with them. He was their friend.
Do you have a group of believers who help encourage you and hold you accountable? Do you develop relationships with non-believers? How can you share the hope of Christ with someone this week?
Posted in Devotions | Tagged 1 Corinthians 9, Camp Ridgecrest, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions