Word Play: Adapt Ability - Tuesday
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (NIV)
We’re focusing this week on the words adapt ability from our Word Play teaching series. Sunday’s message was a great reminder about making sure we’re holding loosely to what we think we’re entitled to as followers of Jesus. The inability to adapt to change will create division between Christians, not to mention prevent us from being able to reach those who have not yet decided to follow Jesus.
Just when I think I’ve achieved a new level of maturity in Christ, with the ability to lovingly adapt to challenging people and situations, all it takes is a car jumping in front of me in traffic to quickly disprove that thinking. It’s alarming how quickly I can move from compassion to contempt if I feel as though someone has an advantage over me, or I have to give up my rightfully held position or place. And if this can happen on New Circle Road, it can happen anywhere, especially in the church!
Inflexibility can be so toxic to the church that the Apostle Paul, by his example, showed us how to live in order to keep selfishness and entitlement from creeping in. We see in our focus verse for today that he used his freedom in Christ to willingly prioritize others, especially when it came to winning them over to Christ. That included setting aside his own rights if it meant he might get an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. And let’s not confuse this as compromise. Paul did not change his message, but he held loosely to methods.
Tuesday’s Reflection
Consider what you might be willing to let go of (personal preferences, position, power) in order to break down barriers keeping people in your life from the gospel. Loosen your grip on what you think is rightfully yours, and watch what God does.
