Our Identity as Marked by the Gospel of Our God

http://bible.us/n/5Ihk

We marry our identities to so many different things that are contrary to who we really are or were meant to be. And too often have these marriages begun with shotgun weddings. However, the Apostle Paul encouraged believers in 1 Corinthians 9:17-23 to reflect on their identity, with the gospel in view, by inviting them, and more appropriately us, to see a snapshot of his way of life.

A part of this identity that Paul described is demonstrated in our humble service to others as empowered by the gospel of our God. "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more" (19). Who we are is married to "whose" we are; and though it is in our very nature to be servants to none other than ourselves,
the life that is now married to the gospel of Jesus Christ is one that is hidden in His identity. Jesus Himself "did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). And in His identity we are empowered to serve others with the gospel in view.

(22b) "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

(23)  I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it."

To "become all things" refer again to this identity, and it was Paul's clear goal to identify and connect with people: thoughtfully, emphatically with the gospel in view. Who am I willing to become in order to reach others?

"All men" means all kinds of people without discrimination or prejudice. The gospel is for everyone (Acts 1:8). Where am I willing to go to reach others; and what cultural barriers am I willing to cross or bridge to reach others?

"By all means" refer to various kinds of methods to proactively pursue people. Prioritizing the gospel is key in these approaches. What methods am I willing to employ to reach others?

"Do all things" refer to his purpose. It was Paul's constant life goal to ensure that everything he did, every action commenced, and every step taken was done through the lens of the gospel. We, too, in a post-modern culture should find ourselves engaged in such a way in our own lives. In what ways does my life engage the culture right now; and what am I willing to do to ensure that it continues?

He did all of this in order to become a "fellow partaker" in the work of the gospel. "Fellow" regards partnership: with God and His work and with those who participate in that work. "Partaker" means participant. He wanted to be an engaged and active participant in the work that God had not only called him to, but to the same Lord that counted him worthy, having entrusted to him the stewardship of that work. What has God entrusted me with in my stewardship of the gospel and of my identity in its work?

Ultimately, the end goal of the life whose identity is married to the gospel of Jesus Christ is that "by all means some [will be] saved." As Christians, our very lives should be marked by that which is "the power of God unto salvation to those who would believe" (Romans 1:16). This is who we are. Moreover, this is who we were meant to be.
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Questions
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1. In what ways can I become all things to the people who are in my sphere of influence?

2. What are some approaches and methods that will assist me in using all means to reach others?

3. Is my life mark by a prioritization of the gospel, and do I do all things through that lens?

4. Am I engaging the culture while in partnership with God, His work, and His people from a biblical worldview?

Our Response: Obedience

Prayer is becoming more important to me because I realize that I haven't really prayed as consistently as I should have over the course of my Christian life; that is, in a designated time of devoted prayer.  Do I pray? Yes. However, it has been more in the conversational, throughout the day, meditative/reflective, kinds of prayers.  I've struggled most of my Christian life to simply ACT in prayer as I interact with God's Word, particularly with regard to the petitions of others and to the matters that God would have us pray.  


Prayer is worship, whether in the prayer closet, or in "every place" as Paul instructs Timothy about directing men to "lift up holy hands" (1 Tim. 2:8).  I recognize that perhaps I don't pray much this way because real, daily intimacy with the Father is lacking.  I really want to be able to give the kind of attention to prayer that I would to a movie or to a really fun game, or a job or other activity; like one would give to their lover.  This for me is needful. This is needful for everyone who consider themselves a follower of Jesus Christ.

Case in point: my mom just called right now and informed me that my cousin Willie died last night (in the middle of typing these words).  He would have been 80 years old this year. Yesterday morning the Father burdened my heart that I needed to see him that day before the end of the day.  I'd been reading Acts 9 & 10 where Peter was obedient to go to Lydda where Dorcas was sick and died. He immediately went with the men who came to Joppa to retrieve him, "coming without delay" (Acts 9:38,39). Dorcas was raised to new life. Moreover, I read how the Father implored Cornelius, a gentile, to send men to Joppa to find Peter and how Peter responded in obedience because of the vision God gave him, opening a door for the gospel to be preach to those who were not Jewish.  Peter went to Cornelius with the men who were divinely directed by the Holy Spirit (v. 21,22) to retrieve him.

Last night, I did not ACT.  One thing is for sure: the Father has once again shown me His Sovereignty and that He does speak to those who seek after Him in prayer. I am only learning diligence in the seeking, faith in the praying, and obedience in the response. He wants us to respond in faith when He speaks to us in prayer.

Vox Dei

"Everyone who belongs to the truth, listens to My voice." One way that those who belong to Jesus listen to His voice is by reading, knowing, and heeding the Word of God. Because "the word of the Lord endures forever," "as new born babes," believers are charged to "desire the pure milk of the word, that (they) may grow thereby if indeed (they) have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (I Peter 1: 25; I Peter 2: 2, 3).

And as believers grow "thereby" effectively and productively in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, becoming skilled in the "word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5: 13) by which we are saved (James 1: 21), we become rooted and established in the present truth; truth that is eternal, immutable, infallible, inerrant, and yes, powerful... So, "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom" (Colossians 3: 16). That is if you have tasted His grace. If not, permit your mind, and soul, and heart to savor the immeasurable, wonderful, marvelous grace of our God and Savior. The kitchen is open, and the Lord is cookin'. Bon appetit!

Quid Est Veritas?

That was the question Pontius Pilate asked of Jesus as he inquired of His kingdom and of His testimony as recorded in John 18: 38. And for generations, philosophers and thinkers alike have posed the same question: "What is truth?" Jesus emphatically says when Pilate affirms that He is a king, "You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world --- to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice" (John 18: 37). If we rewind, however, several months before this encounter, that during the earthly ministry of Jesus, He declares "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14: 6). Since Jesus is the Truth, then everyone who belongs to Jesus listens to His voice. So, the real question isn't "what is truth," but appropriately "Who is Truth?"

As the hour approached that He would be betrayed into the hands of evil men with a kiss in the garden by Judas, Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by your truth. Your Word is truth" (John 17: 17). In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, a revealing truth is made manifest to us: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning" (John 1: 1, 2). Who is Truth? The Word is Truth. Who is the Word? Jesus is the Word because Jesus is the Truth. Pray tell, "Who is Jesus?" Jesus is God.

Question: Do you belong to the Truth? If so, do you listen to His voice? Hint: the second question should not be a question at all if you belong to the Truth.

Strays

This afternoon, God taught me a lesson about what concerns His heart most about the world. When I went to Aldi, a young man asked if I could support his cause by purchasing a candy bar. I said, "Not today." He asked again if I could at least give a donation, hoping in his heart that I'd change my mind. His hands visibly soiled and his gumpy disposition finally caught my attention, but I still said, "Not right now." My mind was concerned with other things. So, I moved on.

After taking care of another "urgent" errand, I left the Jewel-Osco only to be confronted by another "person in need." At first he appeared more engaged with the coversation he was having with a woman it seemed was familiar to him. However, he briefly interrupted it to ask as I exited through the automatic door, "Can you help me out?" His frumpy, old bag and dark-skinned legs drew my attention, his eyes calling out for compassion; I responded, "Can't help you out. Sorry." I was in a rush to get home, in a rush to prepare for small group, in a rush to not be too concerned with what could have been a gospel moment.

As I neared the house, just a quiet block away, I saw a small, wire-haired dog in the middle of Wrightwood Avenue. He was almost hit by a car. My heart went out to it. I slowed my car in an apparent attempt to catch up with it, to keep track of it. The driver behind me blew his horn. I pulled a u-turn in the middle of the street in order to pull over, in order to "catch" the dog.

A man on foot had the same endeavor it seemed. He carried earbuds in his hand. We were fruitless in our effort to keep up with it. The dog proceeded to walk down an alley way. I called out to it, and the little thing stopped and turned around. It seemed to have my attention now, both of us making eye contact. I proceeded to get out of my car and walk toward it. The wire-haired dog, unconcerned about my "apparent" compassion, turned around and ran away from me, around the corner into the other alley way.

The man with the earbuds in his hand who seemed to be just as concerned about the dog as I was, caught up with me. I asked him from my car if the dog belonged to him. He replied no. I assumed that the dog was "lost" although it appeared that around its neck was a collar with a tag. I told the man with the earbuds in his hand the the little, wire-haired dog had run around the corner into another alley way. He peered into my eyes from a distance and frankly replied, "I guess it knows where its going," and continued to follow the dog's unmarked trail.

Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Matthew 9: 35 - 38

Question. Do you view people the way God views people, or are you chasing down the wrong strays?