154th BDS – 3/7/2025

Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:8, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Have you ever thought about why your life has been spared when it could very well have ended on several occasions? A near fatal vehicle accident, an illness that claimed the lives of others, an unexplained occurrence during child birth, a medical condition that doctors had no answer for just to name a few. Not to mention a situation that was so grave that it broke you almost to the point of wanting to willfully take your own life. We are but humans and our lives as meaningful as they all are, are also just as fragile.

“whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The writer tells us that none of us know what tomorrow may bring and who are we to uphold our very existence in such a high regard to the point that we feel that we are owed another day. Life itself depending on GOD’s will for us could very well be here today and gone tomorrow.

So why have we been preserved, kept alive and are still breathing the breath of life with blood still pumping through our many veins?

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle (or letter) to the congregation in Philippi, that he considered everything that he had lost from his former life before he met The LORD on the Road to Damascus as useless as he gained far greater of a reward by surrendering to GOD to fulfill his predestined calling to be chosen to preach the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST in its fullness given to him by GOD Himself. He went on to say that although he suffered many things because of his choice to follow CHRIST, he looked at them (the things and the positions) as a waste of his life when he compared his past to his future in the glory of a Heavenly existence for all eternity.

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul states that he was not a prisoner nor a slave under the control of anyone, but rather that he chose to humble himself under GOD as a servant does to his Master so that he could be effective in winning souls for The Kingdom. No matter who he encountered during his journeys to various places, he was able to adapt to whatever culture, speak the dialect of the region and to learn the governing statutes and practices of those who lived there.

“to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To those that felt as though they were free to live however they wanted to by not choosing to follow the commandments of GOD and who opposed the teachings of the Apostle, yes even them, he felt compelled to win for The Kingdom. Despite the ridicule, the mocking, the bitter hatred, being physically beaten and even imprisoned, Paul was kept alive by the very GOD that he formerly denied so that others would hear the truth and have a chance to be saved.

“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul pointed out that he never held himself in such high regard that he would appear as though he was better than anyone else. He knew that in him through JESUS CHRIST even in his weaknesses, he was strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) He maintained his integrity in GOD while being even the more openly transparent to those he taught embracing the humility of telling them who he used to be and what he used to do, and why GOD had saved his life from destruction. He knew that he was only alive to lead others to CHRIST. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

“And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Nothing that Paul did admittedly was not so that he brought fame to his name or so people looked at him as their personal savior. Everything that he went through, everything that he did was so that the Gospel of our GOD was heard by many in whatever condition that they were in. WE all are One in CHRIST JESUS as Paul affirmed to the congregation and he looked forward to the day that they all would receive their reward of eternal life!!!

Final Thought: Much like Paul, we too all have a choice to make. Our lives can either be used for the glory of GOD our Father in Heaven or be wasted by chasing what the Prince of this World so easily blinds many with. If you’re reading this, know that no matter how you see yourself, GOD’s view is totally different. Somebody somewhere is watching you and whether you want to be or not, you are an example to them, good or bad. Take a deep breath and realize that whether it’s for the benefit of others and/or your own self.. you have been KEPT ALIVE TO GAIN!!!

-Minister Marchand, Founder and Overseer of JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRIES-JIGM and JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY-JIGMIA