Becoming All Things

This year we celebrated the 250th anniversary of America. A country based on a simple concept. Freedom! The Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In America we are free to pursue whatever dreams that we may have. This is based on the Biblical concept that every person is valuable and created in God’s image. We receive our spiritual freedom by believing in the work of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. This salvation frees us from the grips of sin. Paul challenges us to restrict those freedoms at times to draw people to Jesus. “To the weak I became weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (ESV). This concept, “become all things to all people”, isn’t a license to sin and make our lifestyles like an unbeliever. It is a principle that emphasizes the relational aspect of reaching the lost for Jesus. This means that we lay down our life (freedoms) and give them fully to Jesus. Surrendering our life involves full control of our actions to be shaped like Jesus. We need to be adaptable in our relationships with unbelievers and find ways to connect the need for the Gospel in their everyday lives. To do that our lives have to reflect the character and integrity of Jesus. Being a disciple of Jesus makes our will - His will, His mission is our mission. Our personal freedoms take a back seat to the single-mindedness of the goal to glorify Jesus in our actions and words. My life needs to open the door for people to see Jesus. With this thought process in mind, what freedom will I give up reaching the lost? Our purpose statement mentions that we are developing passionate disciples. Am I single-minded in my mission to be a disciple of Jesus? Am I a passionate disciple of Jesus that is willing to put personal wants aside to serve the King? Am I willing to surrender fully to Jesus? “I do it all for the sake of the Gospel.”