By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

That I Might Save Some!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
1 Corinthians 9:22b English Standard Version

This selfie of my grandson, Jacob, at the Coliseum in Rome, reminded me of an old saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”  That means that when I am among people of a different culture I adapt to their customs so that I might connect with them on a deeper level.

That is what Paul is saying in our Bible passage today.  He, a Jew, adapted to both Jewish and Gentile customs so that he might connect with all of them.  That was not just so that they could be on a friendly basis, but that he might be able to bring the Good News of Jesus to them, no matter who they were.

It is hard sometimes to connect with people of a different culture.  Our sinful nature wants others to fit in with us, not us with them.  We want to be with people that make us comfortable, not those who stretch us out of our comfort zone.

But think of Jesus.  He gave up all the comfort and riches of heaven to become a human, to suffer here, to die for us.  And he calls you and me to stretch out to others, to love them, even as he loved us.

Did you notice Paul’s overarching motive?  He went out of his comfort zone, that he “might save some.”  Are you willing to stretch out of your comfort zone a little that others might know the Good News of Jesus as their Savior?  Will you reach “across the aisle” so that others might hear of Jesus?  Let us sacrifice our fears and our pride so that others might be saved! Amen!

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