What does it mean to PARTAKE?

"…to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 

Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you." 1 Corinthians 9:22-23

     Let's think on that word, to partake…when people partake of a meal together, side by side they chew the same substance. It is an action of doing something alongside another.

     Paul is saying here that he desires to partake of the gospel with the lost. That means that he desired not that they come to the table and learn how to eat like "we"-- Christians; but that he would come to their table and partake with them of that which would not compromise his uprightness, and thus they may see a Christian desiring to relate that they may share of the gospel; that the lost may learn how to partake of the gospel and apply it as their daily bread. 

No longer reaching for the portion that never satisfies, but dipping their bread into the oil of eternal life. Paul came to them, took on their normalities that he would have a table of relatability to sit at with the lost, that he could be near enough that they may hear the words of truth and life.

     Too often we sit in our seat within the Lord's house, partake of His Word, His goodness, His filling, but fail to reposition ourselves at the table of the lost, bringing with us the food of eternity; relating to them, that we may partake of the Lord's food together.

We cannot expect the lost to be found, when we ourselves are hiding within the church, or the comforts of our own home.

There was purpose in our tarrying here on earth; if the Lord had willed we be in eternity at conversation, we would be gone, but He has willed that we stay on this earth to be in the world, but not of the world. Paul understood this balance, to sit at the table with the lost, but to partake of eternal food, having received first from the Lord freely, to give away freely.

This is the method we ought to take on in sharing the gospel. We must reposition ourselves, go to the lost, sit beside them, observe, learn, then show them a better way to eat, a food and drink that will satisfy and complete. We must partake of the Lord's table that we may take away and give to the table of the lost, that we all may partake…oh that we all may taste and see that the Lord is good!