Preach the gospel
by Tatiana Overduin
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I do all this for the sake of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:23a).
‘Preach the gospel …’, ‘be compelled to preach …’, ‘preach the gospel’ (1 Corinthians 9:16–18).
Today, the text presents a powerful witness to St Paul’s commitment to preaching the gospel message of Jesus Christ so that ‘by all possible means [he] might save some …’ (verse 22). And not with ‘boasting’ (verse 16), nor ‘voluntarily’ (verse 17), but rather ‘free of charge’ and with ‘no rights’ (verse 18), Paul states that he becomes as ‘a slave to everyone … like a Jew … like one under the law … like one not under the law … and even becoming weak’ (verses 19–23) all for the sake of the gospel (verse 23). Paul is dedicated.
What a challenging text to contemplate. What becomes apparent is how Paul champions the proclamation of the gospel message to whoever necessary. What also becomes clear is how often I inadequately disappoint and, time and again, shy away into my own little world. How many times have I had the opportunity to proclaim God’s truth, yet my lips have remained sealed? I have been hurt before (as you, too, no doubt, have experienced at some point in your life) when stating a Bible text, only to be shut down by others. In 2 Corinthians 2:16, we are reminded that ‘To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom’. The gospel truth doesn’t always smell so pretty, like garlic among roses! And St Paul knew and experienced the outcome of this ‘stench’ in his own life: experiencing beatings, imprisonment, and finally, martyrdom for the sake of Jesus’ gospel.
‘But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume’ (2 Corinthians 2:17). So, how do we know when the gospel message will not get accepted into the heart of another? Who are we to determine when the Holy Spirit will call another through God’s word? We, therefore, look for the opportunity to be ready to attest to God’s work in our lives. We pray that we practise what we preach and join in with all the saints to share in the promised blessing of eternal life. In verse 27, we read, ‘I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize’. Then let us pray that we continue to grow in faith and be worthy of receiving and sharing the gospel truth – the prized message of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate price for the salvation of the world.
O Triune God, have mercy on us and forgive us when we fear and fail to testify to your truth and, therefore, miss opportunities that you provide to bring others to your truth. Help us and give us the resilience to run the race, reach the prize, and one day wear the crown of everlasting life, all for the sake of the gospel. May we humbly accept the task you present to us to share your gospel message with others. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Tatiana is married to Jim, and they live in Largs North, a seaside location in Adelaide. They have two adult children and six grandchildren, who are a wonderful blessing to them both. Tatiana teaches full-time as an English, history and religion teacher; she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Australian Lutheran College in 1996, and in her spare time, she enjoys knitting, gardening, singing for church, writing and swimming. Her home congregation is Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide.
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