1 Corinthians 9:23 English Standard Version (ESV) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

If we are familiar with the passages preceding this verse we might think of Paul as being a chameleon. He became what he needed to become in order to be accepted into the groups where he was bringing the gospel. He may have looked different but one thing that did not change was the blessing he brought with him wherever he went and not matter what had to endure.

Key in this passage is this one word, share. One cannot share something without bringing it with us. It is the one consistent thing in all the appearances Paul presented. One of the aspects of sharing the gospel is finding a way to be acceptable in their presence long enough for them to comfortably recognize the blessings that flow through us because of who is in us.

Comfort in others allows them to relax and get to know us. With time we will be recognized as a blessing that is different than others in our surroundings. Being a blessing will create in them a desire to be a blessing themselves. Then as their desires are recognized, the gospel can then be shown as the source and that we are merely carriers.

When we can recognize that when we sit in peace with others in turmoil we are running our race at full speed and winning the race. It is spiritual, not physical.

1 Corinthians 9:24 English Standard Version (ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Stop thinking of this spiritual race as being physical.

Psalm 101:6 English Standard Version (ESV) I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.

In my generation there was a cartoon whose logo captioned “Keep on Trucking”. Those who tried to emulate that walk looked foolish and that was exactly our point. We didn’t care what anyone thought. After a while it becomes very tiresome to walk that way. Becoming an outcast sounds good in the moment but time wears on eeryone and eventually we should recognize how foolish we look.

The point in walking in the Way is found here in Psalm 101. It is to minister to God. Most of us don’t get that right away. Most of us begin this walk in the Way to change our lives without direction. When you are lost, every direction is a way of finding ourselves.

When we walk with Jesus we will discover that on the way, we will find favor with God. Graces are found, blessing are experienced, minds are changed, actions become focused and eventually we discover that serving God is a ministry of building up the bride of Christ. When we minister to them, we minister to Him.

Matthew 25:34-37 English Standard Version

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

The righteous didn’t see it then but the truth is we minister to Him.