![]() ![]() It’s like Joseph telling his brothers that what they meant for evil, God intended it for good (Gen 50:20), so whatever you have to adapt to in this life, know that God is going to use it for His purpose and for your ultimate good. It doesn’t mean that only the good things are according to His purpose, but all things, both good and bad, will work out for God’s purpose and always for our best. In Romans chapter 8, Paul is encouraging the church at Rome to understand that whatever happens is part of God’s will, either good or bad. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” The words, “under heaven” is simply an acknowledgement of the sovereignty of God and that all He does is always at the exact time in our lives, whether we feel like it is or not. ![]() His goal was not to be popular, but to rescue the perishing.Įcclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”įor anyone that’s going to have to go through a major change in life or is going through one now, King Solomon in his wisdom literature, the Book of Ecclesiastes, says that for everything that happens to us, there is a time to do it and a time not too, but also, there is a precise time for everything that happens under heaven, meaning under God’s sovereignty. On the contrary, most of the Jews and some of the Greeks were not pleased with Paul at all, so it’s not that Paul was compromising his beliefs or his evangelization, but rather, he was trying to please others so that he might have a chance to share the gospel in the hopes that they might be saved. He is trying to please everyone in everything he does, but that doesn’t mean Paul was trying to be a people-pleaser. Once again, Paul speaks about being able to please those with whom he meets and not trying to take advantage of his apostleship to the Gentiles. The word “conformed” simply means “with pressure” so the verse could be said like this “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its own mold.” I need the renewal of my mind in order to have the adaptability to be an effective witness for Christ in order to be transformed into the image of Christ, and that’s God’s goal for all of us.ġ Corinthians 10:33 “Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” If we’re not being conformed into the image of God by the renewing of our mind by God’s Spirit, then we’re being conformed into the image of the world. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” He adapted his message to the audience he was speaking with and with great effectiveness. Instead of talking them down the Romans Road, I went through the commandments of God listed in Exodus 20 and asked, “How often have you broken these commandments of God” (like I have), and “What does the Bible teach that happens to all lawbreakers?” There were two Orthodox Jews that I spoke with so I tried to do what Paul did, “to become all things to all men,” whether it was a Jew, a Muslim, or a non-believer. One example that I can think of was when I was witnessing to some Jews in a mall who had a small kiosk. ![]() The Apostle Paul adapted his gospel presentation to the audience that he was sharing it with. ![]()
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