Totally

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9.22b: "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."  His life was totally taken up by the call he had received when he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Recorded in Acts 9).

Paul was willing to...

• Go Anywhere.  Paul's missionary work took him all around the Roman empire.  And the travels were not all that pleasant.  My friends Joe and Cheryl Young are like that.  They have placed themselves in God's hands, following his direction and have found themselves thousands of miles from family, friends, and familiar.  Why?  To save some...
• Do Anything.  Paul was willing to work at tent making, to teach daily in a secular meeting hall, to stand before hostile crowds and talk about Jesus, to gladly suffer rebuke, shame, even persecution for the cause of Christ.  What are you doing to advance the gospel?
• Be Something.  Paul didn't just do things.  He said he had become all things.  He was willing to become a fool for Christ, an apostle at the end of the procession, a prisoner for the gospel.  He was transformed by the Spirit into a new creation!  Am I becoming something, shaped by the Potters hands?
• Give Everything.  Paul told the Corinthians, "I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls."  Paul gave his position as a Jewish scholar and teacher.  He gave his reputation and comfort.  He gave up his friends and family to follow Jesus.  He knew the secret to the statement: "You haven't given anything until you've given everything."
• Reach Everyone.  Before Paul met Jesus he hated 'Gentiles' - non-Jewish people.  The only thing he hated more than Gentiles were Jews who liked Gentiles!  After he met Jesus, however, his whole focus changed.  He focused on reaching Gentiles!  It's easy for us to reach people like us, but Jesus wants us to reach everyone.  Will you include those not like you as you reach out?

How about you?  Is your life totally taken up by the call of Jesus?  Will you go anywhere, do anything, be something, give everything, and reach everyone?