Barriers...

“[Paul on winning people to Christ through the message of the gospel]...to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:22, NKJV

The Corinthians - influenced, perhaps, by false teachers - had been questioning Paul's qualifications as an apostle. Though the charges were ridiculous, Paul is nonetheless compelled to defend himself - if only for the Corinthians' sake. In so doing he also describes his ministry, and his great burden to preach the gospel. Though Paul was free from all men, he made himself a servant to all, that he might win the more to salvation; to the Jews he became as a Jew; to those under the law, as under the law; to those without law, as without law (though always under law towards Christ); and “to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (vs. 19-22) Paul, when sharing the gospel, met people where they were. He never compromised the truth or his conscience, of course - no good comes from such practices and they are not in view here. But Paul did endeavor to make sure that his message concerning the gospel could be understood by all those to whom he preached it. Human beings already have a barrier up when it comes to receiving God's salvation: our own rebellious pride, which dates back to Adam and Genesis 3. Paul couldn't do anything about that barrier. But he could do his best to make sure that there were no other barriers! So when he reached the weak for Christ, he became as weak, laying aside his own strength for their sake. Christ Himself did the same when He became a man and laid aside His glory in order to save us. We were weak. We couldn't understand God's message of love to us. On his own a man can't even see the face of God and live! So the Lord became a man in order to reach man. He emptied and sacrificed Himself to give us life. He cared too much about us to let any removable barrier stand in the way of winning our redemption. He didn't leave us in our weakness, either. When someone receives God's salvation and believes in Jesus, He receives that person's weakness and turns it into His strength. How wonderful is our God! How amazing is His love! We have refuge in Him, who has compassion on our weakness, and who lays aside His own strength in order reach us.

by Rebecca...