I was looking through some of my archived posts and came across this one from a few years ago while I was in ministry on Capitol Hill. It made me smile, so I thought I would repost it. Enjoy!
This afternoon, I was in the shower asking God to help me cast aside my sinful self for the sake of the mission He has called me to on Capitol Hill. Sometimes I feel like such a failure given what I do for a living, sharing God’s Way on Capitol Hill. For the sake of the gospel of Jesus, I want to live radically so that I can effectively “minister” for Him. I feel almost like a rookie in baseball who is trying to be effective for his team by hitting homers each time I am up to bat, and in trying to match the 70-homer record of Mark McGuire I struggle to even bench enough to give me the power to hit, not to mention dropping my junk food eating and TV watching ways.
So after exiting the Confessional that was my shower, I asked Jesus to show me in His Word what it would look like to drop myself. He did and took me to 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 9:23-27
I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
This is a pretty familiar passage and is usually interpreted as speaking to the idea of disciplining ourselves for the Christian life and being worthy of the prize of heaven and childness. But look at that first sentence again: “I do all things for the sake of the gospel…” That line in conjunction with the rest is a pretty powerful statement. In essence, it seems like Paul is sharing his hearts desire to do everything possible for the sake of partaking in the kingdom movement of God on earth, the sharing of the Way and gospel of Jesus; he desires to be everything and do everything he can to lead people to liberation in Christ.
A few verses prior, he said that he was called to be a steward of and was entrusted with the gospel and Way of Jesus. He follows this realization by explaining his desire to “become all things to all men.” He desired to become whatever person was necessary to effectively win people to Christ. Though Paul was a free man, he became a slave; though he was no longer under the Law, he would place himself in subjection to its requirements, rituals, and customs to save some; to those weakest within society, he became like them. It amazes me to consider the lengths at which Paul went to lead people to Christ. Am I willing to do this?
Am I willing to live a life of purity, to cast aside my desires for the sake of the gospel of Christ? Am I willing to leave a life of materialism and consumerism so that I can testify to the contentment found in the Way of Christ? Am I willing to consciously choose the last seat at the table, choosing the least instead of the greatest place of honor? Am I willing to love someone simply because they are Eikons of the Creator? Am I willing to be–or even not be–whatever person I personally need to be in order to win people to Christ? How far am I willing to beat my body to make it a slave to the mission and Way of Jesus?
Amazingly, Jesus has called each of us out of darkness to forever live in His light. It is a glorious thing to have been transformed by this light and called to live eternally with the Light of the World, but for so many people this is where it ends. So many Christians, me included, are quite content with developing 3rd degree sunburn while lounging around in this light sipping their little umbrella accented tropical drinks, non-alcoholic of course. So many of us have forgotten that God has called us out of darkness to not only ENJOY the light, but to BE the light. God has beckoned us to his family to be blessed, in order to be a blessing.
While addressing his disciples on a mountainside, Jesus gave a sermon and said: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matt. 5:14-16) And guess what, the same exact thing was said of Jesus in the Book of John: The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:9) So Jesus and His disciples give light to everyone in “the house” (read: the world). Now consider the extent to which Jesus went to give that light and life to the world. Also, consider the extent to which Paul went to lead people into the light of Christ. Sobering isn’t it?
Am I willing to follow Christ in his death? Am I willing to daily nail my agenda, wants, desires, and LIFE to my own cross? Am I willing to become the person I need to be in order to lead people into the gospel and Way of Christ? Am I willing to do anything and everything in my power for the sake of the gospel? Are you?
be His,
