Community Devotions

For the Sake of the Gospel

SCRIPTURE

I have become all things to all people 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. - 1 Corinthians 9:22-23

OBSERVATION

How important is the gospel? To what end are we willing to risk and sacrifice all things for it? For Paul it was so important thing that he went “all in” for it. He became all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some. He embraced the principle of “All for Some”. 

• Become ALL Things: For the sake of the gospel Paul became weak, poor, foolish, a servant, a bachelor, and surrendered his very rights that he was entitled to.
• ALL People: To the Jews, he became a Jew; to those under the law, he became like one under the law; to those who don’t have the law, he became like one not having the law; to the weak, he became weak.
• ALL possible means: he exercised extraordinary self-discipline so that he will not be disqualified to preach the gospel; he ran in such a way to win the prize; he went into strict training in order to get the everlasting crown; he did not run aimlessly but with purpose; he beat his body and made it his slave.
• Paul sacrificed it "all" for the possibility of winning “some".

I think at the end of their lives many people will be saddened by the fact that they lived it “all for nothing”. They pursued happiness, purpose, fulfillment without Christ and the gospel and it amounted to nothing in eternity. I want to live my life with purpose of “all for some” so that I don’t reach the end of my life with “all for nothing”.

• All things: I may have to surrender my own rights, the very things I am entitled to so that I can win some for Christ.
• All people: Be more diverse in reaching people in order to meet with them right where they are at. Learn things that I am not necessarily familiar with i.e. financial market, surfing, politics, government, real estate etc.
• All possible means: Be disciplined in resisting sin, laziness and self in order to pursue Christ in my spiritual disciplines (prayer, bible, worship, fasting, silence, solitude)

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for giving it all to save some. Thank you for bankrupting heaven in all its glory and giving us your son Jesus. Jesus, thank you for giving your very own life and surrendering it all to save me. Please forgive me for feeling entitled and insisting on my rights. Lord, I want to do all things for the sake of the gospel and for your glory. Please give me a heavenly vision of what it looks to share in the blessings of the gospel. I love you. Maranatha!

Sifting through the Dough

SCRIPTURE

“Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

OBSERVATION

Sometimes we have sin in our lives or things that inhibit us from growth, that we don’t recognize as sin and we keep operating in our normal “routine.” We go on with our lives not even realizing how things in the past has affected our behavior today and we respond to others out of past hurts or disappointments. We don’t mean to hold onto our past baggage or want to operate in our sinful nature but we unintentionally do and it affects everything that we touch—it could be with the way we act towards our spouse, our children, our co-workers and even the way we do our job or our ministry. As followers of Christ, it’s important that we constantly evaluate the way we live so that others will call us “different” because we are changed and look more like Jesus. If there is something in my life that continues to be a problem, I should always take it to the Lord so he can help me identify the source and get rid of the old “yeast” so I can operate freely in Christ.

APPLICATION

This verse also reminded me of how I lead my company. I’m constantly having to sift through my “dough” which are my employees because I’m constantly working on the culture of our company. If I have one “cancer” in my company, it affects the whole “dough” and it spreads quickly. I have to work very hard to always make sure that character and attitude is that of Christ so that everything from the top down is healthy. If we have one employee that is affecting many others, we know that we need to identify the problem quickly. Sometimes we have to get rid of the individual but other times we choose to work with this one individual to produce a healthy environment. Sometimes showing them grace and love produces a changed heart and attitude. This affects the whole “batch” and we have a healthy culture and at the end of day, we pray that they see Christ.

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, refine me daily and renew my mind so that I may reflect you in my life. Help me to always identify the old “yeast” in my life so that I can have healthy relationships and be able to handle adversity with your eyes, your heart, and your plan. May I never ignore the sin or problems in my life, whether intentional or unintentional, and help me to always weed out the things that destroy and bring life to every area of my life. I ask you to also help me lead in a healthy way. Everything that you entrust me to take care of, I pray that I can always lead with your heart. I love you so much Lord and I want to make sure that my life always exemplifies you in all areas of my life. Amen!