Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 9:20
God used Paul to share the gospel message with various groups of people. Over the next few days, we’ll examine the different groups of people to whom Paul took the opportunity to share the gospel. We read in 1 Corinthians 9:20, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law.” God had Paul mention that the first group of people were the Jews to whom he proclaimed the gospel. Paul had a passion for the Jews because he was a Jew. We read in Philippians 3:5 how Paul was “circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews.” Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Paul would want his Jewish brothers and sisters to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Since the Jews believed they could earn God’s favor by following His Law, that is what many sought to do. Paul, when he was with other Jews, willingly lived as one under the law though he knew he was not in bondage to the law, for Christ had set him free (Galatians 2:16). He sought to love his Jewish brothers and sisters by not offending their beliefs. Still, he sought to show them how only Christ could fulfill the whole Law of God and that they could never flawlessly keep all of God’s Law (James 2:10).
Challenge & Application
How are you living as an example to your lost family and friends so that they might come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior?
How have you seen lives changed by the Lord because you chose to honor Him in the way you lived for Christ before them?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!