I have often marveled at how much and how light the Apostle Paul traveled. As you read the book of Acts and the Epistles you get a quick sense of how much ground the guy covered. He was in and out of countries, cities, and towns. He shuffled through different cultural contexts with their variant practices of worship. You see him in synagogues, in the market place and in the Areopagus (Acts 17). At the same time, he traveled light. He had one satchel and it was filled with gospel.
Have you considered this? The Apostle with all of the complexities of his audiences and all of the intellectual background that he himself had, he just brought gospel. He essentially has the gospel soundtrack on repeat in every single setting. He says as much in 1 Corinthians 2.1-2:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Oh, the beautiful versatility of the gospel. It is beautiful not that it so lacking in substance that it can be so easily translated into various contexts. Instead it is beautiful in its versatility because it is so unfathomably rich and deep yet it is still so easily translated into various contexts without sacrificing it relevance, power, and profundity.
I have seen this in recent days in my own context. I have had the chance to talk to people from various backgrounds about Jesus. I have been able to talk to a businessman, a former heavyweight fighter, a drug addict, a former cult member, one who in the throws of various addictions, and others. I have told these same people the same essential message that I preach on Sunday mornings. It is also the same thing I talk with my family and friends about. While there may be various thoughtful ways to bring the gospel story to bear on their individual situations the message of the gospel is the same. This really is amazing.
Consider that no matter who you meet today or tomorrow, whatever the zip-code or country, you will be able to talk with them in a very relevant way about Jesus. It is the gospel of Christ that tips over the idols that cannot deliver and shows that Jesus can truly heal the hurting and satisfy the hungry soul. This should free us up to listen to those around us and prayerfully consider how we might thoughtfully and lovingly and faithfully speak of Christ.
