Who Am I
“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 under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s 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, that I may share in its blessings.”
Today’s Text: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
There was an old Woody Allen movie called “Zelig.” It was about a Jewish guy who had an uncanny knack for blending in with the majority culture. He himself, however, had no personality to speak of. There was a psychiatrist who was trying to help Zelig find his true self. The punch line of the movie was when Zelig, a Jew, actually became part of the leadership of Nazi Germany.
The message of the movie is that we are all like “Zelig” in some way. We become like the culture that we grow up in. It’s the whole “nature versus nurture” debate. Hyper liberal hearts take the whole idea of “nurture” to the extreme and disregard the significance of “nature.” Hyper conservative hearts tend to disregard the significance of “nurture.”
Of course, in truth, both nature and nurture play a significant role in terms of who we can become. To completely disregard the roles of nature and nurture in our lives, however, is to be like “Zelig.” We will always just conform to the culture around us and believe that that is our natural self.
In other words, I believe it is helpful and healthy to think about our “nature”—that is, our natural strengths, weaknesses, inclinations, etc. But we must never limit ourselves based on what we think that our “nature” is. Only God truly knows.
It is also helpful and healthy to think about who we are with respect to our upbringing, our “nurture.” Doing so can help us to be more empathetic, sympathetic, and compassionate toward others. We can regard someone who is struggling and know, “there, but by the grace of God, go I.”
More than anything, however, it is good to understand human nature and nurture, including our own, in the context of God’s ultimate purpose for our lives—to fill the earth with His glory in Jesus Christ, through God-fearing, God-honoring, God-worshiping, God-loving communities and families, the church.
Some people have called that having a “missional mindset,” and it is demonstrated by the apostle Paul.
In a way, we all have a “missional mindset.” We set our minds on things that we think are valuable and important and good, and we orient our lives around pursuing those things.
Of course, the gospel of Jesus Christ comes with promises too. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2), so that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). In the same way, the apostle Paul did whatever it took so that people might be saved and so that he might share in the blessings that the gospel promises.
If we orient our lives around pursuing the promises of the gospel, we too will experience the fullness of life and the joy that the gospel promises … And people will be saved for the joy and the glory of God!
Father, You are good, and Your lovingkindness, faithfulness, and mercy endure forever. Why do we treat our devotion to You as sacrifice and suffering. Lord, we know that the world is full of making sacrifices and suffering. Only, let us see and taste that You are good. Let us see and taste the joy and the blessings that come from living for the sake of Your gospel. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
