Do And Say Everything on Purpose!

I’m always inspired by Paul the Apostle’s visit to Athens and subsequent sermon on Mars Hill (the Areopagus). While waiting for Timothy and Silas, Paul visited the city, seeing its many temples, and became distressed, reasoning in both the Synagogues and Marketplace. What is more, in his sermon, he even quotes their poets, Epemidies of Crete and Aratus! What does this mean? I can hear some people say, “How dare he quote something NOT from Scripture to reach the Pagans on their level?!” However, Paul gives a reason for this in 1 Corinthians:

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. Ro the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings”- 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul knew his audience! He figured out who he was speaking to, and then knew how to communicate the Gospel to them. Jesus did, and said, everything on purpose. Paul and the rest of the Apostles tried to do the same, and so should we! Let us live and speak in such a way as to give God glory and share the Gospel everywhere!

Colossians 3:1-17

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.