Walking and talking

Jonathan Fleming May 08, 2023 2 0

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1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 (NRSVA)

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, so that I might by any means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

One of the things that many congregations do (with the best of intentions) is to decide upon, design and deploy a new initiative without taking any time to communicate with their ‘target audience’! After expending a great deal of time, energy and money, congregations are left scratching their head when fewer people than hoped (or none) turn up, or when such initiatives fizzle out in a short time… This approach seldom succeeds as one tends to make a number of assumptions about what people are looking for, only for the product to fail to connect with those for whom it is intended.

If we want to make Christ known to those around us, sometimes we need to shut up and listen. It is not a one-way street…

Paul knew this. He knew that he needed to experience things from the point of view of those to whom he was reaching out; he knew that he needed to walk a mile in the shoes of others in order to fully understand how they tick. He didn’t just talk… Paul walked…

Jesus did the same. He listened and then responded. He made stories relevant to his audience, thus allowing people from myriad walks of life to understand more about the Kingdom of God.

May we strive to do the same, whilst, like Paul, keeping our bearings in Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21,The Message).

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ,
Help us to come alongside those who are yet to know you.
Help us to listen with our ears.
Help us to see with our eyes.
Help us to respond with you.

Amen.