This year I've been striving to go deeper in my study of Scripture. In the past I've read through the Bible a few different times. I've tackled numerous reading plans, both chronological and otherwise. Despite having read through the Bible in its entirety more than once, I'm far from feeling like I really know Scripture. I see this as problematic not only because the story Scripture tells is our story as Christians, but more so because Scripture is supposed to have a transformative effect on our lives. How can I expect to be transformed if I don't know one of the paramount things that's meant to help transform me? I know these things are true because of the few passages of Scripture I do know well. The biblical passages I hold dear to my heart and I truly feel like I know have altered the way I perceive God and the world around me. Imagine if that were the case in regards to every Scripture passage! Imagine how in tune with God's will I would be if I knew His Word, His Story, as well as I know the story of Harry Potter or the story arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (yes, for those who didn't know before, I am a huge nerd). That's why this year I've been trying to do more than simply read a chapter a day. Instead I'm trying to go through a chapter slowly, writing down my thoughts as I go, and praying into what God reveals to me afterward. Yes, it takes me longer than quickly reading a chapter and moving on with my day, but reading the Bible for the sake of reading it was never really the point, was it? Again, what good is it to have read the Bible without really knowing what it says?
All this is to say that this morning I was reminded that God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him and His Word. As I read, wrote, and prayed through my devotion this morning I really felt God speak to me through a passage of Scripture I've only ever quickly read over before. Today I read through 1 Corinthians 9. In the beginning bulk of the chapter Paul talks about all the rights he has as an apostle. As I reflected I wrote, "Just as modern day preachers' salaries are drawn out of the tithes of the church, so too did Paul have a right to some form of material gain from those he ministered to." In the same way we don't expect the pastors of our churches to do their jobs for free, Paul had every right to expect some form of compensation or reward for the work he did. But listen to what he says in verses 15-18:
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not misuse my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul saw his calling to preach the gospel as so much more than a job. He speaks of it as a duty, but it's evident he saw it as more than that even. Paul clearly saw the task before him, preaching the gospel, as a privilege and, as he says himself, a reward in itself. And as I recognized that I realized God was reminding me why I'm here at Beautiful Gate. I'm not here to be a "super Christian" or a "super missionary" by any means (in fact sometimes I don't even feel like a very good Christian or missionary, but that's beside the point). Yes, I'm here to care for orphans and widows, but caring for others isn't the end goal either. The point of my being here is to point others to Jesus. Whether it's verbally sharing the gospel story or reflecting that story in the way I live my life, that's the ultimate goal of my life. If people here or people back home can say they know Jesus better because of me I count that as a win. Hugs, compliments, and recognition are nice and all, but knowing that I had a hand in drawing someone else closer to Jesus is the greatest reward I could ever receive.
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