1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made 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 people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

-1 Corinthians 9:19-23

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So many time as Christians, we ask non-Christians to come into our world and adapt to our Christian culture and standards.  But as we see here, the Apostle Paul has a very different ministry philosophy.  He argues that we need to go into people’s worlds and we need to immerse ourselves in their culture so that we can communicate the Gospel to them.

Immersion doesn’t mean that we take on their beliefs or ideals while forgoing on own.  But it does mean we live life with people and in the process of living life with people we get to show them Jesus by the way we live and with our words.

This is one of the reasons why I love Young Life.  So often in Christian-dom we ask kids to do this or do that, to come here or go there.  In YL, caring Christian adults go into the world of young people.  They show up in school.  They go to football games (pre-pandemic, of course) and orchestra concerts.  They go into the world of teenagers so they can communicate the Gospel to teenagers.

I know all of you are at different places in your walk with God.  But if He hasn’t done so yet, one day God will give you an opportunity to leave the comforts of your environment so that you can go into someone else’s world and culture to tell them and show them God.

Jesus did that for us.  He left the comforts of heaven to come to earth so that he can die for our sins and to show us a better way to live.

Who are you living life with?  With whom are you sharing Jesus?