May 22
“To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without Law, as without Law (not being without Law toward God, but under Law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without Law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you,” 1 Corinthians 9:20-23.
Before Paul became the apostle, he was known as Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the early Christians. One day, he was on his way to Damascus to arrest men and women who had accepted Christianity. He was determined to bring them back to Jerusalem, where they would be persecuted and possibly killed.
The Lord Jesus appeared to Saul along the way. He spoke to him from heaven and stopped him in his tracks and struck him with blindness. He was told to go to Damascus, where he would be told what the Lord Jesus wanted him to do. In Damascus, the Lord appeared to Ananias in a vision and instructed him to go to a certain street and meet Saul of Tarsus. The Lord told Ananias, “He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel,” Acts 9:15. God was calling Saul of Tarsus to become the great apostle Paul to the Gentile world, to people in prominent government positions, and to the children of Israel.
How Paul carried out his ministry is an example for all Christians to follow: “To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews.” Without denying the truth of God’s Word, he witnessed to the Jews and proclaimed to them that Jesus, who had been born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, was the Son of God and the promised Messiah and Savior of whom all the Old Testament prophets had spoken and written.
Paul accommodated and adjusted himself to the various customs and practices of his hearers in as far as it was possible without denying any Christian teachings. No matter with whom he came into contact, he always had a message of sin and grace. Whether he was dealing with Jews or Gentiles, whether his contacts were with Christians or non-Christians, he would adjust to their customs and way of life, as long as he was not required to deny the Word of God and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
His Christian conduct is summarized in the sentence, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” In dealing with people, it was always Paul’s hope that the Holy Spirit would work through his witness to bring or to keep each individual in the saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son and the Savior, who sacrificed Himself on the altar of the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to wash away our sins, and He rose from the grave to conquer sin, death, and the devil. This is God’s Good News: The Lord Jesus lived, died, and rose again for your sake and mine, and for the redemption of all people. In our contacts with others, we should always keep their souls’ salvation in mind.
“Hark! The voice of Jesus crying, ‘Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?’
Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers thee;
Who will answer, gladly saying, ‘Here am I, send me, send me’?
Let none hear you idly saying, ‘There is nothing I can do,’
While the souls of men are dying, And the Master calls for you.
Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when he calleth, ‘Here am I, send me, send me!’” Amen.