Run The Race (Bringing Different People To Christ, Differently)

Friday's Devotion (3-11-05)

"For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you]. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1 Corinthians 9:19-24 (KJV)

We're running a race, and some of us are just sitting on the couch watching the rest of us run by. They're not doing anything to further the gospel, they're not doing any works for the Lord. What do they say? What do they think? They think everything's fine and dandy, they think that it's not their job to save souls. They think that they're going to get rewarded for doing nothing. This is a race that you must run, like you can and will win! Play this race like you're destined to be first place and to be the greatest in God's Kingdom! People are out there gaining souls for the Kingdom, they're striving for the first place and second place isn't an option to these people. Now that is loving the Lord! I have to say this: Look at Billy Graham for example. This guy is running the race, he's met so many people with the gospel. It's amazing how many people he has met and how many people he has preached to. I'd say that this guy is striving to obtain the great prize! Each and everyone of us have the ability to do as great of works, or even greater works than Billy Graham even thought of. There's a big work to be done and only few were chosen for the job. It's time to get up off that couch and run this race!

Notice in these scriptures how the person speaking is saving souls. He's becoming as the people he seeks to save. With the Jews he becomes as a Jew, to those under the law he becomes as one under the law and so on. This is the area that most people who are trying to save souls lack in. Let's look at Christ, when he was at the well with the woman he says, "I'll give you drink and you'll never thirst again." With the fishermen he said, "Come with me and be ye fishers of men!" He knew how to save souls. You have to grab peoples' attention with the things that they're interested in. This brings me to something else. You know what makes me mad? Let's look at Christian music today, a lot of it is contemporary. Contemporary Christian music consists of styles like: Rock, pop, alternative, etc. Christian music has all these different styles, but the lyrics are Christian, the words are Christian. The words are really powerful to these songs, songs like: I Can Only Imagine, I See Love, Leaving Ninety-Nine and etc. The list goes on and on. What makes me mad is that people will say that this kind of music is evil. Why is it evil? Is it because it reaches sinners right where they're at and brings them to Christ? That's not evil, that's awesome! I think it's awesome that the church is stepping out of the box and doing something to reach different kinds of people! The question is: What are you doing?

Before we end this, let me just add something to clear up any confusion. Some of you may think that you need to sin to save sinners. That isn't the case. You don't need to do drugs to save a drug addict. You need to stay clear of sin. Now you may even be more confused, but really the concept is simple: Maybe you want to reach a wrestler with the Word of God, then you could talk about the wrestling in the Bible. You can talk about how Jacob wrestled for his blessing and prevailed. Maybe you want to reach a poet. You can show him the art of how the Bible was written. The list goes on.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Help us to save many souls and to not sit the race out. Help us not to be ignorant people, but understanding. May we understand that people are different and that there are different ways to bring different people to Christ. In Jesus name. A-men!

God bless!

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