Daily Devotional For Monday, January 13, 2025
It is amazing to watch people, especially if you know personality types. There are approximately 16 personality types. If you have never taken what is called “The Meyers-Briggs’ Personality Test,” here is a link so you can: Personality Types. Once you have taken the test, and score it, you will be given a set of four letters. Then you can scroll down and look up the description of that personality. Though each one is different, whichever one you are, I’m an ENTJ, is pretty accurate in its description.
If I have your curiosity now, for me, E=extrovert. N= intuitive, T= Thinking, and J=Judging. Now before you jump the gun and assume something here Judging does not mean I am critical or judgmental of others. You will have to read the descriptions for yourself. Thinking means I base my decisions primarily on logic, not emotions. Whatever your four letters are, there is a description for it. Are there exceptions? Yes – sometimes there are some experiences, especially painful experiences which shape our personality. These descriptions are generalized, not specific but they are pretty accurate. Now some of you are very punctual and some of you are always late. Some of you are very organized and some of you are . . . well . . . not so organized. Now why am I on to this you might be wondering? I am so glad you asked.
I’m on this due to 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, where the Apostle Paul writes this:
“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. (20) When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. (21) When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. (22) When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. (23) I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings” (NLT).
The Apostle Paul must have been some kind of remarkable person. One of Paul’s enviable personality traits was his ability to speak to different groups of people. He admitted that he was a bit like a chameleon by changing his presentation in order to relate to the people he was with. To the Jews, he spoke about Jesus as the Messiah, whose coming had been foretold by their prophets. To the pagans (Gentiles), who worshipped various idols and rulers, he spoke about his God being the Only True God.
He never compromised his message, but he did whatever it took to convince his listeners that the gospel was true. We have the same assignment, but it may look a little different for us. It might be reaching out to the homeless or the poorest among us to see how you can help in a way that does not further diminish their dignity. It could mean finding a pathway to visit prisoners in the local jail to share the good news. Wherever God invites us, let’s humble ourselves and be willing to adapt and change to reach the world for Jesus.
I read a story about a pastor named Phillipp Johnson and it shows how much and how fare he was willing to go to be like the Apostle Paul:
“After his ordination in 1969, author and pastor Phillipp Johnson received a call to serve one large church and ten smaller churches on the northern coast of Newfoundland, Canada. On the first day of his new circuit ministry, Johnson learned that in order to get to the smallest of the churches, he would have to travel 40 miles by snowmobile to a tiny village. When Johnson arrived, only one person had shown up for worship—a fisherman who had traveled about 20 miles to get there.
Johnson initially thought about just saying a prayer and calling it a day. But then he realized that together, he and the fisherman had already logged 60 miles of travel and had 60 more miles to return home. With that in mind, Johnson decided to conduct the whole service as if there were a few hundred worshipers. They did it all: the hymns, the readings, the prayers, the sermon, the Lord's Supper, and the benediction.
It was during the sermon that Johnson wondered why he had bothered. The fisherman never looked up. But when Johnson greeted the fisherman at the door and thanked him for coming, Johnson received a pleasant surprise. The fisherman said, "Reverend, I've been thinking about becoming a Christian for about 30-odd years. And today's the day!" (Source: Philipp Johnson.”
Being “all things to all people” is not about whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, it is about whether you love the Lord and people. Philipp Johnson did all of that for just one man. Wow! That one man went on to receive Christ that day after waiting 30 years. You have a story to tell about Jesus as His witness. Everyday you run into people with different personalities, experiences, joys, sorrows, education levels, and etc. What they need from you and me is this. People do not care what we know until they know we care personally about them.
Questions To Consider
- The man in the story above had thought for 30 years about becoming a Christian. All of a sudden, on that particular day, his heart changed. What do you think was one of the biggest contributors to that and why?
- Your ability to be His witness is not dependent on which personality type you are, but on what you are passionate about in life for Jesus Christ. Jesus was and still is passionate about lost people. God loves to take your personality and use you as His witness. What would you say are the strengths and weaknesses of your personality? How have these impacted you in sharing your faith with others?
- Would you be willing to travel 40 miles and go through a whole service with just one other person? I know this is a hypothetical question and it would be easy for any of us to quickly say, “Sure.” The question is not about how you were impacted with the story above, but how far are you willing to go personally to be a witness for Jesus Christ?
If we restrict our sphere of influence to only where we fit in or are comfortable, we will miss limitless God-opportunities that will change our lives and the lives of others we never imagined to bless. When and where in the past have you been willing to get out of your comfort zone to be a witness for Jesus Christ?
Scripture To Meditate On: 1 Corinthians 10:33, “I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your invitation to carry Your message of reconciliation through the cross to those who need to hear. Help me be a courageous and bold ambassador of Your truth and walk through every door You open before me. Please help me use my personality to be You light and witness wherever I am and to whomever I am around. May I be all You desire me to be for the sake of the gospel and the transformed lives of many for Your glory. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I love you Southside–Pastor Kelly