When I read about Spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12, I think that God’s given me the gift of understanding. I believe this because I can read about or hear Biblical statements and concepts, and understand them. Perhaps not fully, but I know I understand its messages because the themes are repetitive and they continuously confirm what I “heard” initially. Sometimes God says it “in your face” and other times the message is much more subtle. Take “God’s Grace” for example. Sometimes God looks straight into our eyeballs and says, “By grace are you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:8). Other times we have to stretch and strain to hear God whisper the same idea, “In Him we live and move and have our being…” (Acts 17:28)
I also think that I have the gift of tongues or language because I hear statements like the ones above and I “hear” how they are connected. The statements or concepts speak to me in a language of their own. I know that this is true because when I try to communicate these ideas to others, it is unintelligible to them.
If Paul didn’t spend half of chapter 14 of I Corinthians on prophecy and interpretation, I wouldn’t bother seeking these “gifts.” I would have been satisfied in what God’s given me and would be happy indulging myself in them for the rest of my life. “Translating” what I understand is very frustrating and way too much work. My attitude is, if people don’t “get it,” well, they just don’t get it—there’s nothing that I can do about it! But Paul’s plea, “Try to excel in gifts that build up the church” (I Corinthians 14:12) following the lecture on love (I Corinthians 13) really bites.
There should be some consolation in knowing that Paul is not singling me out. Paul’s preaching this to the Church at Corinth and God’s speaking this to ALL His people everywhere. I just don’t understand why I’m taking this so personal…Who am I kidding? I understand.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
God Said...
When I open up the Bible and read the first chapter of Genesis, I notice that every time God opens His mouth to say, “Let there be…” I repeatedly hear the words, “it was so” immediately following God’s declaration (Genesis 1:3, 6-7, 9, 14-15, 24, 29-30). There seems to be virtually very little or no time between God’s spoken word and the existence of the universe. This is so mind-boggling.
Interestingly, the New Testament book of John introduces us to God as, “The Word.” John declares that “The Word” created the universe and that “The Word” is the originator of life (John 1:1-4). In verse 14, John tells claims that “The Word” came to earth as a human being, lived among humans, and was recognized as God’s Son (vs. 14). John finally says that “The Word” was named Jesus (vs. 17). Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe the earthly life of Jesus and convincingly, these books are called the Gospels because they proclaim the Good News of God on earth.
The New Testament writers continually claim that the Person and Character of God is revealed in the Person of Jesus (One of the many places that tell me this is Hebrews 1:1-3) and when I read through the Gospels, I am reminded of the God in Genesis 1.
Modern medicine says that healing takes treatment and time. After being treated, people are not always cured. When I read through the Gospels, I see Jesus encountering people with all kind of sickness and disease and Jesus healed multitudes of people. Most of the time, Jesus “spoke,” and it was so, just like in Genesis.
Psychotherapy says that people can be helped with their mental and emotional problems through counseling which takes time. Sometimes people are helped other times they are not. When Jesus met people with demons, He told the demons to leave, and it was so.
Meteorologists and economic analysts try to forecast the future. My friends and I laugh at the weathermen because they are wrong so often. Jesus predicted many things like Peter’ denial and the destruction of Jerusalem and it was so (Matthew 26:31-34, 68-75, 24:1-2).
Scientists tell us that there are laws of nature. Jesus overrules nature by calming a storm and by walking on the water (Matthew 8:23-27, 14:25-31). Jesus also commanded a fig tree to die and it was so (Matthew 21:18-19).
Most people recognize that death is final. However, when Jesus said that a young girl was not dead, the people laughed at Him. Jesus went to the girl, took her hand, and she got up, just as He had said (Matthew 9:23-25).
Over and over again, Jesus predicted that He was going to die, but He was going to live again (Matthew 16:21, 26:1-2, 20:17-19). And it was so, just as He said (Matthew 28:1-10).
Jesus said, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). John says, “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). Paul adds, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Corinthians 5:17)
It will be a wondrous thing when the multitudes in heaven will gather together and with one voice shout, “It is so!”
Interestingly, the New Testament book of John introduces us to God as, “The Word.” John declares that “The Word” created the universe and that “The Word” is the originator of life (John 1:1-4). In verse 14, John tells claims that “The Word” came to earth as a human being, lived among humans, and was recognized as God’s Son (vs. 14). John finally says that “The Word” was named Jesus (vs. 17). Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe the earthly life of Jesus and convincingly, these books are called the Gospels because they proclaim the Good News of God on earth.
The New Testament writers continually claim that the Person and Character of God is revealed in the Person of Jesus (One of the many places that tell me this is Hebrews 1:1-3) and when I read through the Gospels, I am reminded of the God in Genesis 1.
Modern medicine says that healing takes treatment and time. After being treated, people are not always cured. When I read through the Gospels, I see Jesus encountering people with all kind of sickness and disease and Jesus healed multitudes of people. Most of the time, Jesus “spoke,” and it was so, just like in Genesis.
Psychotherapy says that people can be helped with their mental and emotional problems through counseling which takes time. Sometimes people are helped other times they are not. When Jesus met people with demons, He told the demons to leave, and it was so.
Meteorologists and economic analysts try to forecast the future. My friends and I laugh at the weathermen because they are wrong so often. Jesus predicted many things like Peter’ denial and the destruction of Jerusalem and it was so (Matthew 26:31-34, 68-75, 24:1-2).
Scientists tell us that there are laws of nature. Jesus overrules nature by calming a storm and by walking on the water (Matthew 8:23-27, 14:25-31). Jesus also commanded a fig tree to die and it was so (Matthew 21:18-19).
Most people recognize that death is final. However, when Jesus said that a young girl was not dead, the people laughed at Him. Jesus went to the girl, took her hand, and she got up, just as He had said (Matthew 9:23-25).
Over and over again, Jesus predicted that He was going to die, but He was going to live again (Matthew 16:21, 26:1-2, 20:17-19). And it was so, just as He said (Matthew 28:1-10).
Jesus said, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). John says, “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). Paul adds, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Corinthians 5:17)
It will be a wondrous thing when the multitudes in heaven will gather together and with one voice shout, “It is so!”
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Marthe
When Marthe got married, she questioned why my “congratulatory” note to her was so long and why my message to her husband was so very short. I don’t remember what I wrote to her or how long it really was, but I do remember the message to her husband. I quoted Ephesians 5:25, which says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…”
I don’t remember if I said anything else to him, but that would have been enough. As a husband, this verse of scripture has and continues to stir a lot of emotions within me. As a young man, I would have really appreciated it if Paul had said the first part of the sentence without the qualifier. I would have been very content if Paul had just said, “Husbands love your wives” PERIOD. Instead, Paul brings men this admonishment, “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” What a sobering thought!
It was on this understanding, that I entered my marriage covenant. On one hand I was anxious and fearful because of the tremendous, heavy, and awesome responsibility that I was taking on. On the other hand, this statement has also brought great joy and relief because it reminds me of what Jesus has done and continues to do for me. Separated from this qualifier, husbands stand alone. Having this qualifier, men are not only connected to their wives, but are joined together not only with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but the lover of our souls!
I don’t remember if I said anything else to him, but that would have been enough. As a husband, this verse of scripture has and continues to stir a lot of emotions within me. As a young man, I would have really appreciated it if Paul had said the first part of the sentence without the qualifier. I would have been very content if Paul had just said, “Husbands love your wives” PERIOD. Instead, Paul brings men this admonishment, “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” What a sobering thought!
It was on this understanding, that I entered my marriage covenant. On one hand I was anxious and fearful because of the tremendous, heavy, and awesome responsibility that I was taking on. On the other hand, this statement has also brought great joy and relief because it reminds me of what Jesus has done and continues to do for me. Separated from this qualifier, husbands stand alone. Having this qualifier, men are not only connected to their wives, but are joined together not only with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but the lover of our souls!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
