GOD PAUSE DAILY DEVOTIONS of Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Unted States for Wednesday, 4 February 2015 - 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

GOD PAUSE DAILY DEVOTIONS

Wednesday, 4 February 2015 1 Corinthians 9:16 If I preach the gospel, I have no reason to brag, since I’m obligated to do it. I’m in trouble if I don’t preach the gospel. 17 If I do this voluntarily, I get rewarded for it. But if I’m forced to do it, then I’ve been charged with a responsibility. 18 What reward do I get? That when I preach, I offer the good news free of charge. That’s why I don’t use the rights to which I’m entitled through the gospel.

19 Although I’m free from all people, I make myself a slave to all people, to recruit more of them. 20 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). 21 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). 22 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. 23 All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.[Common English Bible]

Some football fans (as seen on TV) proclaim their enthusiasm by waving a giant styrofoam hand with an enlarged and extended index finger. This is their way of demonstrating that "We are Number One!" It would be interesting to see what St. Paul might make of this display in light of what he says in today's text: "If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting ... " In other words he is not Number One; the gospel he proclaims and serves is Number One!
Paul goes on to explain how he shapes his proclamation. He offers the gospel free of charge. He becomes a slave to all. And he becomes all things to all people. This does not mean he is a wimp. But it does mean he has learned how to read his audience for effective proclamation. He does it for the sake of the gospel. And so may we all, for we know who is really Number One.
O God, we know you are as good as your word and that the Word became flesh. May we know the gospel and proclaim it for all to hear. Amen.
Robert Brusic
Seminary Pastor Emeritus, Luther Seminary
Bachelor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School , 1964
1 Corinthians 9:6 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!
17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.
18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.[New Revised Standard Version]

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