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Pray for ONE Reading Plan | Week 3 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Ask God to open your eyes to wonderful things from His word.
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Read these verses three times slowly.
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 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.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. 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. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Reflection & Questions
By Pastor Dan Chapin.
Hudson Taylor was a British missionary to China who founded the China Inland Mission in 1865. Taylor’s ministry was really unique, and unlike most missionaries of his time. Taylor realized the importance of adopting Chinese customs and languages. As a Brit, he would wear Chinese attire, live in Chinese homes, and adopt a lifestyle that was fitting with the Chinese community. By the time Hudson Taylor died he had trained over 800 missionaries and had established around 300 mission stations, impacting tens of thousands of people in China. Taylor gave up his freedoms and way of life in order to see people far from God become followers of Jesus. He did so, simply because he became all things to all people, so that he might win some for the Gospel.
Today, we don’t really like to give up our freedoms do we? People today are hardwired to do what’s right for them at the expense of others if necessary. Paul flips the script for those who would want to follow Jesus and also live as missionaries in this world. He says we should live as figurative “slaves to others.” He says, in order to reach others, you have to be willing to give up your freedoms. What you wear, what you eat, where you live, so that you might win as many as possible to Christ. Jesus calls Christians, within reason and without sinning, to become all things to all people. After all, Jesus modeled this didn’t He? Jesus stepped out of heaven, putting on human flesh that we might become adopted into the family of God. He desires us to follow that example.
- How does the life of Hudson Taylor inspire you?
- Who might you reach if you adopted such a lifestyle of becoming all things to all people so that you might win some?
Prayer
God help me to see my life as one that is a missionary, to take a step outside my comfort zone so that I might share your love with others.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
