1 Corinthians 9

vs 19-22 ... Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.

So very refreshing! Can you imagine Paul today? Just think of all the people he would be working with, hanging out with, ministering to! Homeless people, cancer patients, kids with autism, drug addicts, gamblers, porn addicts, alcoholics, HIV/AIDS patients, war heroes, congressmen. He'd have a fantasy football team and go to Superbowl parties. He'd hang out with the teens discussing the realism of cliques in High School Musical. He'd golf with the pastors and doctors. He'd set up play groups and mentors for teen moms.

Because really? How are any of these people different than the people back then? Ok, maybe excluding HSM and football. But didn't they have the same drama and stereotypes that we do now? 2000 years haven't really changed anything at all.

I think of the WWJD bracelets/bumper stickers/posters people used to display so proudly. But, really, Jesus was our teacher. Paul ... Paul was our missionary. He was the one that taught us how to put the words of Christ into action. Now, before we get all jumpy, I'm not putting Paul up on the same pedestal as Jesus - not by ANY means. I am very much saying that the next time we see a guy on the corner with a "Will work for food" sign ... think about what Paul would have done with him. He wouldn't have turned a blind eye and ignored him, but he would have found him help - a job, some food, anything.

We are all built to minister to a group. We all have experiences that we are meant to share in order to help someone else. Don't waste those - help someone you know God has intended for you. Be a Paul.