Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am 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 the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men 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.

Here's Paul's principle in spreading the gospel: "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." This doesn't mean that he will do bad things in order to identify with bad people, but we must learn to understand what others need and identify with them. We need to understand those who are weak in order to identify with them and win them over; we need to understand those under the law so that we can help them to be liberated from the bondage and understand that they need freedom in Christ. Paul wanted to make sure that we understand the needs of others so that we can bring them to know Jesus.

It's difficult for the gospel to reach a wider audience because we don't really understand the needs of the general public. We often preach the gospel of the ancient time; yes, the gospel does have an ancient background, but its message must be modernized, because the gospel is for both people of the ancient time as well as today. People in the past were lost, like sheep without shepherd, but aren't people today in the same situation? People were feeling empty before because they had nothing, but people today still feel empty even though we have everything. English literary master Bernard Shaw has once said: "There two tragedies in life: One is to lose your heart's desire, and the other is to gain it." People can feel empty regardless of the circumstance! Jesus has always been the shepherd of our souls, so people of anytime can bring the needs of people before God. Even when they are lost and in despair, they can be comforted and satisfied.

May God give us wisdom so that when we talk to people we would have spiritual insight into what they truly need. Paul said that "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." Can we identify with Paul's determination, and do we understand his principle in preaching the gospel and sharing its blessings with people? May God come and help us!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you because we've seen the truthful example set by Paul. Please forgive us because we often forget the real needs of people around us. Give us spiritual insight so that we would truly know their needs, and help us to bring them to you so that our lives might be changed. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!