At the beginning of this month, I was reading through 1 & 2 Corinthians and came across two different passages where Paul talks about becoming all things and enduring all things for the sake of the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:19-22
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), to as to win those not under the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
2 Corinthians 6:3-10
“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, in hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights ad hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
And, as I thought about these two passages, I thought about all the things that I’ve ‘become’ over the last three months. And, the list is actually quite long. Here are twenty-five things that I came up with:
- Tutor.
- Cook.
- Cleaning Lady.
- Dishwasher.
- Laundry Woman.
- Hairstylist (and customer).
- Worship Leader.
- Cinemaphotographer.
- Prayer Warrior.
- Sunday School Teacher.
- Evangelist.
- Babysitter.
- Author.
- Actor.
- Swim Teacher.
- Marshmallow Roaster.
- Singer.
- Preacher.
- Camp Counselor.
- Bible Teacher.
- English Teacher.
- Spanish Teacher (in India, strange enough).
- Pharmacist.
- Artist.
- A Canvas.
And, I’m sure this list will continue to grow over the next several months to include things I never would have expected or chosen.
What things are you willing to become to share the Gospel?
