Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Passion to Evangelise
“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel”
Paul reminds us that Christian life has much more in common with a marathon than with a hundred meter race. We must understand that we are called to persevere in the long run that makes life worth living. In this passage we learn about Paul’s passion for sharing the word of God. Sometimes we are tempted to place our emphasis on worldly rewards, which perish with the passing of time. The scripture however, encourages us to focus on some things more permanent. We honor God by seeking spiritual impact that will be rewarded in eternity.
Run the race with eternity in view.
God made Paul’s faith so strong that Paul knew about a reward which is much better than money. It was that he could declare the word of God freely without price (Isaiah 55: 1-3). Paul did not want to be like someone who was just carrying out their duties. He recognises that it’s an honor to declare his message to do God’s work and also to see how God changes people’s lives by means of his good news. Paul explains the reasons for his attitudes (no wages) which seems so strange to them. He did such things because he wanted to bring more people into a relationship with Christ.
He worked for the benefit of all
Paul was doing what Christ said in Mark 10:43-44. A Christian leader should not behave like a ruler or master, but like a servant in order to obey Christ. He obeys God and works for the benefit of everyone. This is what Paul wanted to claim. He would serve all people as he brought Gods good news to them.
He lived among them
Paul lived among the Jews like one of them. He respected their customs and traditions but he acted differently where it was necessary in order to obey Christ. He respected the people who were trying to serve God. He used God’s law to teach them so that they could serve God in a better manner. The Jews accepted Paul as a Jew (1corinthians 9:20) and people from other nation who did not know God accepted Paul as well. He worked among them like one of them, but Paul never forgot his duties to God. He always remembered that he must obey God. That’s why Paul acted in this manner. He wanted to show God’s love to his people. Paul had a constant desire that God would save his people.
Paul understood the human weakness
He realised it comes from a person’s desire to please himself. It becomes so clear when a person allows his emotions to control his decisions, attitudes or behavior. He could help those people because he too had felt such feelings and he wanted to save people from it. So Paul declared the Good news to everyone. He lived humbly among them. He did not consider himself greater than them. He urged them to trust God as he himself had done and the result would be that together they would share God’s good news.
Like Paul, you and I have this same freedom in Christ, are we using it wisely in our daily lives?
Prayer: Father God help us  always to  remember that  we were sent to this  world with a special purpose, to serve and  to do  good  wherever we are and to always  glorify your name through our lives. Amen
Thought for the Day: We have freedom in Christ that sets us free.
Tobby Thomas, St Johns MTC, NY
Theme of the week: Passion to Evengelize

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