Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Paul continues to lovingly instruct the believers in Corinth. After reading the first part of this passage, it’s clear that his ministry has been questioned or even opposed by some members of the body of believers and apparently word reached Paul. Paul stands firm in his apostleship, and he reminds those he’s addressing with this letter that he’s had privileges that he could’ve utilized along the way, but he actually made it a practice of denying himself so that nothing would stand in the way of him preaching the gospel.

As you continue reading this passage, you’ll see Paul saying in verse 22 that he has lived in such a way as to “become all things to all people”. Early on in my walk with the Lord, this passage was unclear to me and was actually a little confusing. Being all things to all people seems like a daunting, impossible task. Is Paul saying to be a chameleon, changing with your surroundings, blending in where you are? That’s not the case at all.

See, just like all of us, Paul had a set of God-given limits. He had been born with a specific lineage and in a specific time period. He was a Jew with Roman citizenship by birth. He had been richly educated but had also been changed by a face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ on the Road to Damascus. There were people Paul could reach that other apostles wouldn’t be able to reach with the good news of the gospel. He was determined to serve the people God had put in his path, however, he could in order to reach them for Christ. Paul says in verse 23, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” In concluding this passage, Paul tells the Corinthians to run the race with purpose and discipline. To sum it up, I’d say that Paul was intentionally connecting with people in his path in order to share the good news of the freedom in Christ available to them.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Think about the people God has placed in your circles. How can you serve someone this week or reach out to them to point them to Christ?

Family Devo: 1 Corinthians 9 

By: Cody Smith 

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset

Head 

In today's reading from 1 Corinthians 9, the apostle Paul is talking about his rights as an apostle and how he chooses to use them. He explains that as an apostle, he has the right to be financially supported by the churches he serves. However, instead of exercising this right, Paul chose to work and support himself so that he would not be a burden to others. He did this to be a good example to the believers and to avoid any hindrance to the Gospel.

Heart

Paul's heart was filled with a deep love for God and a passion to share the Good News of Jesus. He was willing to give up his own rights and privileges for the sake of the Gospel. He saw his calling as a mission and was willing to endure hardships, persecution, and even financial struggles to fulfill it. Paul's motivation was not fame or personal gain but the desire to see people come to know Jesus and experience the love and salvation He offers.

Hands

From Paul's example, we can learn the importance of sacrificial love and serving others. Like Paul, we can choose to put the needs of others before our own. We can use our talents, time, and resources to bless and serve those around us. Just as Paul worked to support himself, we can find ways to contribute and help others without expecting anything in return. We can be generous and selfless, knowing that our ultimate reward comes from God. 

Today, let's think about how we can serve others with love and selflessness. It could be as simple as helping a family member with a chore or reaching out to a friend who needs encouragement. Let's ask God to show us opportunities to make a difference in someone's life and to give us the strength and willingness to serve sacrificially. 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Paul and his sacrificial love for the Gospel. Help us to have hearts filled with love and compassion for others. Show us how we can use our time, talents, and resources to serve and bless those around us. Give us the strength to put others before ourselves and to live with a spirit of sacrificial love. In Jesus' name, Amen.