Acts 18:1-23 | Whatever It TakesSample

Paul’s been devoting himself to bringing Jesus and his gospel to his Jewish people. He travels to wherever he can find his Jewish people. He worked as a tentmaker so he could devote himself to witnessing. He spends every Sabbath in the synagogue trying to persuade Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. He even takes the Nazirite vow.

1 Corinthians 9 is an incredible passage that sums up Paul’s willingness to do whatever it takes to reach people so that more might be saved.

Here’s a snippet: “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 not having the law I became like one not having the 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…” (1 Cor 9:19-23, NIV).

Paul is a Jew. He goes to the Jews. This despite a history of being rejected and abused in the synagogues and hunted by others who want to kill him. He knows that God wants to save his fellow Jewish people. He does what it takes.

Paul is willing to conform. Not on Jesus, nor his gospel. These are inviolate, and he’d rather be stoned than compromise Christ. But in all the ways that relate to preferences, Paul will meet his Jewish brethren where they’re at. He had Timothy circumcised. He submits to Jewish laws. He takes the Nazirite vow. He doesn’t need to do any of these things. He’s free in Christ to live differently. But he chooses to live this way. Because he knows that by doing so, it’s just possible some more might be saved.

This devotion is called “Whatever it takes.” Who do you want God to reach? What are the stumbling blocks getting in the way? What can be done to reach them? To build bridges? To make inroads? Make a decision to do what it takes to help lead them to Jesus.