"...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 Cor. 9:22-23 ESV
What's your Jesus story? In other words, how did you come to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? What, or who, removed the scales from your eyes and helped you see the difference between believing in Jesus and being born again?
There's no doubt about it, if you're a Christ-follower, Jesus has transformed your life. But God didn't do it by Himself, did He? He used other people along the way. It may have been a friend inviting you to church or a mentor speaking life into you. Whoever it was, most, if not all of us, can attest to having at least one person who helped us in the early stages of our faith.
How beautiful is that? I mean, just think about it: God Almighty chose to use an imperfect human being to join Him on His mission to save you. Could He have done it without that person? Of course! But He didn't; He chose people like your friend and your mentor to transform your life.
Now imagine if that person had said no.
What if instead of obeying God and helping Him pull you from a life of sin and show you the Way to eternal life, that person had decided to pass. What if their response had been, "Yeah, God, I know you told us to go out and reach all nations, but I'm busy right now. Besides, this person you want to save? She's just another young person who listens to that modern music you know I don't like."
What if Jesus had responded that way? Imagine Him looking at Peter and saying, "Yeah, my Father wanted me to save you, but I don't have time." Or to John, "So, my Father says you're His child too, but look at you, you're just a kid. And you don't even use the same translation of the Torah as me! Why should I choose you?"
That doesn't sound like Jesus, does it? In fact, that's the very mentality Jesus came to abolish. A mentality focused more on rituals and outward appearances than the heart. A mentality more focused on the giver's preferences than the Father's.
Jesus came to save everyone. He didn't come just to save those who looked like Him, acted like Him or believed like Him. He came to save every single person (John 3:16-18, 2 Peter 3:9-15). And what did it take for Him to do that? Well, Paul sums it up pretty well when speaking of his own ministry, "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."
Can you say the same? Imagine: You're in Heaven and God asks why you didn't reach out to that young person like He asked. Your response? "Well, God, I didn't like their music." Will that be your answer or will you be like Jesus and Paul and become all to today's young people? Will you do it for the sake of the Gospel?
References:
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.