Wednesday, September 30

Today, I want to focus on the I Corinthians passage from the daily lectionary, particularly chapter 8, verses 1-3. Paul is writing to a somewhat arrogant group of early Christians, who are struggling with the concept of eating food offered to idols. Corinth, like any Mediterranean city heavily influenced by Greek culture, was a know-it-all community. People craved knowledge there. Greek scholars and philosophers were the movie stars of their days - great orators who charged money to teach people how to advance socially and properly appease the many gods. And their arrogance was rubbing off on the church members in Corinth. Paul, knowing this, poked fun at the Corinthians when he said their "'knowledge' puffs up" (1). I love how he put "knowledge" in quotes. To Paul, the average Corinthian "does not yet know as he ought to know" because Christianity, unlike the other religions of the day, was not (and still is not) based on knowledge. They thought they knew it all, but they really had no understanding of God. Here's the full thought: "If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God" (2-3). Our knowledge, no matter how many books we read or classes we attend, can never approach that of the Creator of the universe. Even the combined knowledge of today's "wise" and "eloquent" preachers and orators would be put to shame. However, Paul says we can be "known by God" because of our love. Isn't this a wonderful promise? I don't know about you, but I want the God of all creation to know who I am. So instead of praying for knowledge, pray for love. Our hearts can be filled much fuller than our minds.

Monday, September 28

The passage in 2 Kings disturbed me today. I couldn't help but to see parallels in my life to this. The author made the statement that God's people practiced fear of the Lord and practiced the worship of idols. They worshipped the gods of their culture while fearing the Lord. The author here makes it evident that the two cannot co-exist together. Fear of the Lord means a rejection of culture's gods. Fear of the Lord means following his statutes and commands; finding right what God defines as right, finding beautiful what God defines as beautiful, finding true what God defines as true. I have tried to keep this same relationship going in my life: fearing God and culture's gods. Like Paul says in Philippians, I have gotten comfortable with the god of my belly as I am surrounded by people who follow the same god. I feel like lately I have sacrificed purity of mind, heart, and actions for the sake of cultural relevancy, at least that is what I tell myself. Really though, I am following the god of my belly while trying to fear the Lord. These two cannot co-exist.

Father forgive me for following culture's gods. Be patient with me and do not turn away from me. I am frail and my will is weak. Remain with me based upon the faithfulness of your Son, Jesus. He is the only way that you are able to deal with me like you have. Thank you. Please do not let me mistake your loving patience for blessing over my actions. I want your kindness to lead me to repentance and not your harsh discipline (which I admit I deserve daily).