Paul
the apostle told the Corinthians that he became, “to
them that are without law, as without law ... that I might gain them
that are without law.”,
and in chapter nine and verse twenty-two
of First Corinthians, Paul continued his exhortation to
the Corinthians as he wrote, “I am
made all things to all men” to
“save some”
where we read:
To the
weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak:
The
verse begins, “To
the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak:”
Paul began
with the words, “to the weak”
which means “to the infirmed and feeble” “became
I as weak” or
“Paul came to be and happened as the infirmed and feeble”,
“that I might gain”
which means “so Paul might acquire Christ's favor and fellowship
with” “the weak”
or “the infirmed and feeble”. If it was necessary, Paul would
identify with those who are “feeble” in their faith so he might
“acquire” or “win” them to Christ.
The
verse continues, “I
am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some.”
Paul added
the words, “I am made” or
“Paul came to be and happened as ” “all
things”
which means “each, every, the whole and everything” “to
all men”
which means “toward each, every, the whole and every person whether
male or female”, “that I might”
which means “that Paul might acquire Christ's favor and fellowship”
“by all means”
or “through each, every, the whole and every certain way” “save
some” which
means “acquire favor and fellowship with Jesus Christ”. Paul
became any way that was necessary to bring “some”
people into “favor and fellowship with Jesus Christ”.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how open he was to
identifying with people regardless of their “weak” or
“strong” stance in the faith. He was able to adapt to ways that
were not “eternal” to bring them into fellowship with Jesus, and
we should be inspired to do the same. This was not “sinful”
behavior on Paul's part, nor would he be involved in those things,
but when people were bent in “weak” or “feeble” ways,
it did not persuade him to avoid them. Jesus desires for everyone to
know His sacrifice of death on the cross for their sins, and to
everyone who is willing, He will provide “eternal salvation” and
“fellowship” with God. May all who read these words know and
understand His invitation to know Him.
Next
time Paul tells the church members, “this
I do for the gospel's sake”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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