Ordinary Time

Pause

There is nothing that you, with God’s help, cannot do.

The things you cannot do alone, you were never intended to.

Just know…

That whatever challenge faces you,

God will be there to help you through.

Listen

Although I’m free from all people, I make myself a slave to all people, to recruit more of them. I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law). I act like I’m outside the Law to those who are outside the Law, so I can recruit those outside the Law (though I’m not outside the law of God but rather under the law of Christ). I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Think

What are you willing to do so that others can see Christ in you? What are you willing to give up so that you are not a hindrance to others desiring to know Christ for themselves? What are you willing to do so that others can hear the voice of, feel the love of, accept the gift of life offered by Christ Jesus?

Paul was willing to lay aside everything, except the law of Christ by which he was bound, for the sake of others coming to know Christ. He was willing to inconvenience himself, to take on the roles, dispositions, and behaviors of others, to be a servant where he was not obligated to be, to abide by laws he did not have to follow, and even risk his life for the sake of sharing the message of Jesus Christ in ways that others could hear, understand, believe, and be convinced to follow him.

It is what Christ had done by coming into the world to save humankind. It was a choice made out of love.

Kathy Culmer

Pray

Thank you, O God, for all those who have gone out of their way for me, inconvenienced themselves for me, and loved me enough to give up some part of themselves so that I might be drawn to Christ. Help me to show such love and grace to others that they too might realize your love and choose to believe and follow you. Amen.

Go

When we trust God, we do not have to face life’s challenges alone.

It is through our weakness, the things we cannot do on our own,

That God’s strength is made known.