105. Thursday after Septuagesima Sunday.
1 Corinthians 9, 19-22. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
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It was the glorious calling and duty of the apostles to preach the gospel; and it is the calling and duty of all Christians to win souls for the Lord. Every Christian should be able to say that which Paul here says: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” Faith makes me free from all men; love makes me the servant of all men. Paul was no longer bound in conscience to observe the Jewish ordinances, with abstinence from certain kinds of food, with purifications, vows, and the like. He could, without doing violence to his own conscience, have eaten the flesh of swine, and blood, and things strangled, and anything whatever. But he conformed to their customs notwithstanding. For instance, he caused his head to be shorn in Cenchrea, because he had made a vow; he observed the rite of purification in Jerusalem (Acts 18, 18; 21, 26); and he declares concerning meats, that if it makes his brother to offend, he will eat no flesh while the world stands (1 Cor. 8, 13). When he could, without wounding the feelings of the Jews, disregard their customs, and in that way the more readily gain the gentiles, he did this also. He did not lead a lawless, heathen life; on the contrary, he was bound by the law of Christ, which is love, and he led a Christian life in spirit and truth. To the weak he became as weak; he was made all things to all men, that he might save some. And this life in true liberty and ministering love was so important to him that without it he could not be a partaker of the gospel. In the following verses he speaks of the struggle for the prize. This is worthy of particular notice. — Such a life must we lead, dear Christians; free from all men; lords with Christ over all rules and ordinances; not to be judged of the weak or the strong, and yet in love the servants of all; willing to accommodate ourselves to all in order to gain them. If we know these things, then may God help us to do them! Then we shall not be all the time asking: What am I permitted to do; and what must I deny myself? Love will point out to us the proper course. Let it be the constant aim of our whole life to win souls for the Lord by ministering, self-sacrificing love. Do this, for the sake of God and your salvation. As for yourself, you are saved in Christ without any work of your own; now you should strive to do unto others that which he has done unto you. In this way you shall surely be able to decide upon the better course to take in matters relating to the so-called indifferent things, which are neither commanded nor prohibited.
Lord, give us the true spirit of liberty and charity. Give us grace to walk in this spirit at all times and in all places. Alas, we are as yet very far from doing it; help us, O our God, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
Lead on, O Love and Mercy,
O Purity and Power!
Lead on, till peace eternal
Shall close this battle-hour:
Till all who prayed and struggled
To set their brethren free,
In triumph meet to praise thee,
Most holy Trinity.
[suggested tune: Aurelia, TLH 473; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.