24

October HeartBeat

By BRAD Hall

was looking at all the different

CMA vests I own( see photo), and when I hung them all up together, I realized I have a few. Don’ t ask Shawna about them; she is quick to point out how much money I have spent on them( lol). But let me explain how I convinced her that this is for ministry.

In all seriousness, I have spent years buying vests that I can wear according to the occasion where I am serving or ministering. Some may say that I am a little odd in my overthinking of wardrobe, but I do believe in the scripture of“… all things to all men …”( 1 Corinthians 9:22, NKJV). Perhaps Paul is not specifically speaking about clothing( or maybe he is?), but I do believe there is room for us to explore our style of riding or ride, dress, etc., to reach different people groups. Before some of you go off on a tangent, I am not talking about sinful behavior to fit in. I may, however

, be asking you to explore the vest you wear, the jewelry you wear, the hat you wear( or don’ t wear), and the tie you wear( I knew that would get you); well, you get the point.

Neither Paul nor I am asking that we abandon who we are at the core. In fact, Paul explains just the opposite in 1 Corinthians 7:20 when he tells us to“… remain in the same calling in which he was called”( NKJV). Nor are we asking that you let go of your connectedness to Jesus and the life of submission to Him as Lord and Savior. I would argue, it’ s just the opposite. If we are doing this with a heart for Jesus and a lamenting for those that don’ t know Him, then it is all for the“ Gospel’ s sake”( 1 Corinthians 9:23, NKJV) and that“ by all means save some”( 1 Corinthians 9:22, NKJV). If you want to see an example of this, read Acts 16:3( NKJV). Paul circumcised Timothy, not because it is a requirement for salvation, but because Timothy’ s not being circumcised could have interfered with evangelism and the mission.

Again, this is not a license to sin. It is, however, a challenge to reflect on what you cling

to for your own personal agenda or style. What are you not willing to change for the sake of the Gospel? Is it your hat, your old leather vest that was given to you, your old leather vest you crashed in, your fluorescent vest that you have because you don’ t wear leather, the way you ride, how you travel, jewelry you wear? This list is endless, but you get the point.

There are things we cling to for the image we want to project to the world, when all Jesus asks is that we cling to Him and project nothing but Him to the world. In all honesty, we probably need to wake up in the morning and tell Jesus that we are a blank canvas for Him to dress us as He sees fit for the mission of the day.

Just some food for thought. Shawna and I love all of y’ all! See you at the Colors Rally! CMA

Brad and Shawna Hall oversee the Southeast Region as National Evangelist.