1 Corinthians 9:1-27
Friday, 1 January 2021
“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that by all means save some. “ -1Cor.9:22
God introduced His grace to the world through Jesus Christ (John1:17) and He extends that grace to mankind even after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, through His disciples, who form the body of Christ on earth.
Jesus was first introduced to the world by an angel when the news was announced to Mary about her bearing the baby Jesus! It was told Mary that “you shall call His name Jesus.” (Matt.1:21) That name reveals the plan of God, for Jesus means “Saviour.” The Bible tells us that the name of Jesus is highly exalted above every other name (Phil.2:9) and the most powerful name (Eph.1:21 & Matt. 28:19); there is salvation is His name (Acts 4:12); there is healing in His name (Acts 3:16); there is repentance and remission of sins through His name! (Luke 24:47).
God offered His plan of salvation to all nations (Luke 24:47; Matt.28:19; Rev.5:9 & Rev.7:9). Nevertheless, this plan of God needs to be implemented in this world through His church— rather His disciples, that is you and me!
A man of God said: Without grace, truth can become hard and condemning, but equally grace without truth can become insipid and cloying. (The Word from the Throne by Patrick Whitworth). So, we who are called to carry God’s plan of salvation to this dying world, must be people who are qualified / able to present the truth with grace! That calls for a great deal of attention by each of us - our heart needs to be trained and tuned to the plan of God! The key verse says: “by all means save some.” Paul says he willingly became one among the people to whom he proclaimed God’s love and saving grace! Only a child of God who is filled with the Holy Spirt and whose heart is steadfast in God, can identify with the various cultures of the world without compromising his/her identity in Christ!! As Paul says in 1 Cor.9:26-- this is a ministry on purpose.
It is quite evident from the Bible that whoever rejects the Salvation offer of God through Jesus Christ will finally be destined for hell fire (Rev.20:15) But whoever heeds to God’s loving offer will reign with Christ in heaven in eternity! However during this journey to eternity (saved from hell to reach heaven), Jesus commanded His disciple to go to the whole world and be a witness to what He did in their lives in saving them from eternal separation from God! (Acts1:8) So in a sense each believer is in a journey from Hell to Heaven through the Whole world to snatch out some people from hell fire! (Jude 1: 23)
In Matt.9:13 Jesus said “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” How can we then reach out to sinners without getting the stain of sin? Only being purged out of every sin and being filled with the Holy Spirit to stay away from sin. Hence, while Jesus exhorted His disciples to be His witness to the ends of the earth, He also told them to receive the power of the Holy Spirit!
As stated in Isaiah 49:6 God wants us to be “a light of the nations, so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Are you ready to be a channel of His saving grace to the ends of the earth? HE calls you today to be filled with His Spirit, so that He can use you effectively, powerfully and purposefully for the accomplishment of His plan - which is salvation of the whole world!!
The call to become all things to all men and by all means to save some is a voluntary decision to be taken by each. Are you ready? He is willing!
The New Year Blessing: May 2021 become a year of abundant harvest for you!