1 Corinthians 9:16-23

But when I preach the good news, I can’t brag. I have to preach it. How terrible it will be for me if I do not preach the good news!  If I preach because I want to, I get a reward. If I preach because I have to, I’m only doing my duty. Then what reward do I get? Here is what it is. I am able to preach the good news free of charge. And I can do this without using all my rights as a person who preaches the good news.

Paul Uses His Freedom to Share the Good News

I am free and don’t belong to anyone. But I have made myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many as I can to Christ.  To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law. I did this even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law.  To those who don’t have the law I became like one who doesn’t have the law. I did this even though I am not free from God’s law. I am under Christ’s law. Now I can win those who don’t have the law. To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I have done this so that in all possible ways I might save some.  I do all this because of the good news. And I want to share in its blessings.

Dear Lord, Jesus… if only, we all, could have a ‘bit more’ of Paul in our hearts…so that we might better serve You.

…Many Blessings…to all of God’s people…cjlb…2/4/2018