February 9, 2018 Friday

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and 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.” (1Corinthians 9:16-23 NKJV)

            Paul teaches us that every Christian is called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and woe to we who do not do so.  Sharing the Gospel is not optional but is a mandatory calling on Christians.

            Paul tells us that if we offer the Gospel willingly than there is a reward for us.  What is the reward?  You get to be a servant to all!  This is a reward? Jesus came to be a servant to all and to be like Him is the greatest reward of all!!!

            Paul reminds us that sharing the Gospel is more than carefully prepared words or testimonies.  Sharing the Gospel is a way of life where we serve others by shaping and living our lives so we can care for and share with many different kinds of people.

            Sharing the Gospel is caring enough to know the person we are sharing with and their weaknesses and serving them by not living when they are around in a way that tempts them.  Sharing the Gospel is serving God by serving others and seeing them as more important than our wants and desires!  More important than even our needs!

            Sharing the Gospel is going to the prison to share with those in prison, it is going to the bars to share with the alcoholics and it is going to the places they are so we can share Gods love with them.  Jesus became our model for this ways of living!

            And the Gospel must be offered without charge.  Congregations may see “sharing the Gospel” as a way to bring in new people and their wallets!  But the serving does not end with sharing the Gospel for our Lord did not say to make Christians but DISCIPLES!  Disciples are Christians who are growing on in the faith through worshipping together, studying the Bible, prayer and serving.

            What do you share with those around you?  Do you not call people higher because you live lower?  Do you in your judgment push people away in guilt and anger?  The picture of Jesus in the New Testament is of sitting and talking with those we may feel uncomfortable with if they came to our worship service.  Serving is making them comfortable even when it makes us uncomfortable!

            Pain, pain and more pain!  The pain grows and new places are added.  I believe much of the weariness comes from the pain now.  When I have my blood pressure taken when I am hurting it is higher.  I cannot go anywhere and more and more I feel cutoff.  But in truth I really “travel” more than ever in my time of prayer.  At anytime during the night or day God calls me to pray for a place.  The last couple of weeks God has called me to pray for Ecuador.  I usually do not know why, I just pray.  I have my regulars like those who are being persecuted, Muslims, Philipinos, Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and those in Honduras.   When Bonnie and I pray together I always pray for the “shepherds” – pastors of congregations, those hurting and being abused, those who are enslaved by addiction, those enslaved by others and those who abuse and enslave others.