ALL THINGS TO ALL

 SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

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.
                  (1 Corinthians 9:22b,23a)

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, he was deeply aware of how many different groups of people with competing beliefs existed in the busy seaport of Corinth. This included people from different cultures, people who held different religious views, people who were free and people who were slaves, people who were transient and those who were permanent inhabitants of the city. So, we need to understand that when Paul talks about becoming all things to all people, he is talking about the necessity to be able to communicate with widely differing groups with one key aim: to share the gospel so that they may be know the love of God personally.

So, another way of putting it is that Paul knew his audience. Whether they were Jew or Gentile, under the law or outside the law, strong or weak, knew the gospel or were unaware, Paul’s desire to share the good news of Jesus led him to do his best to understand the city and meet people where they were. To be sure, He was not always successful in this, but he never failed in preaching the gospel to all people under all circumstances.

I believe this is the calling of our community of Jesus to know our city and county and understand our fellow citizens, and encounter people right where they are. I have said it before, let us not be known as Christ followers, for what we oppose, but rather let us be known for what we are for. We are for all people under all kinds of varying circumstances, to know the gift of abundant life through God’s love.

May we, like the Apostle Paul declare,

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.

1 Corinthians 9:22b,23a.

Let Us Pray

God, we thank you for your love and for showing us how much we matter to you. Help us share your love with others so they too may know how much you care for all people. Amen.