Being winsome to win some.
| Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (1Corinthians9:19-22) |
In this beautiful passage Paul talks about the price he is willing to pay in order that people may be reached with the gospel.
He talks about being willing to sacrifice status, comfort, simplicity and strength and being willing to embrace service, complexity, humility and weakness. He is willing to do all of this in order to reach others.
Paul is not the first to do this...
He walks in the footsteps of Jesus who sacrificed the glory of heaven and embraced the brokenness of humanity so that He could reach us and save us. And Jesus did this at the behest of the Father who gave His one and only Son...
Paul is not the last to do this...
Centuries of Christianity have been made possible by those who have given up status, privilege, and rights and have made sacrifices of time, talent and treasure to reach others.
They became winsome to win some.
And so must we...
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Over the last month we have been served by the time and talents of those who have written our Month of Mission Devotions. They have inspired and provoked us. They have captured our emotions and engaged our minds.
And so we express a very big THANK YOU to our dev writers for 2016: Christopher Judelsohn, George Marchinkowski, Abraham Nkhata, Lentikile Mashoko, Lita Madaka, Matarofa Mutonganavo, Thembinkosi Nopapaza, Victor Letuka, Lungile Mpetsheni, Jackie Barker, Peter Langerman, Alan Cameron, Paul Neshangwe, Mukondi Ramulondi, Armando Sontange, Ruth Armstrong, Brian Smith, Christopher Mkandawire, Andries Combrink, James Gray, Eddie Germiquet, Lydia Neshangwe, Jerry Pillay, Douglas Bower, Glen Craig, Melanie Cook, and Dennis van der Spuy. I drove you crazy by limiting you to 450 words but you have been winsome. You have been faithful in serving God into the mission field with your time and gifts and we pray His blessing on you. May we all do the same!
This formally concludes the Month of Mission which is an initiative of the UPCSA Mission and Discipleship Committee.
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PS: Theo Groeneveld writes a daily devotion Tues-Fri during school terms. If you would like to subscribe you can sign up at http://eepurl.com/bjK8GT or you can reply to this email and ask to be subscribed.
