College Collage – Part 1
We’ve had another day at home with bitter temperatures, but thank You, Father, for the blessings of a warm home and no need to be out in it. Bless this time to the furthering of Your Kingdom. Amen.
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In cleaning out files today, I came across a baggie of things I had on the wall in front of my desk in college. Some are comics clipped from the newspaper – The Wizard of Id, B.C., and Dennis the Menace. Two are from a Ziggy calendar I had. There are a couple of cartoons from other places (I don’t remember where 40 years later!) And then, there were several passages of Scripture that I had written out with a calligraphy pen.
Some were just for fun, but interestingly, a couple pointed out things that were yet to come in the Lord’s plan for my life. I was studying to be a minister of music, so The Wizard of Id cartoon made me laugh, speaking “less attendance” because of “Mrs. O’Leary in the choir” being “the devil’s work.” Another cartoon referenced a “great children’s church program.” I had no idea that the Lord would lead me to serve full-time in that capacity of ministry for several years.* Then, an additional cartoon focuses on a man from a church speaking to a man in a body cast, stating, “We hope this hasn’t soured you on bus ministry and little children.” And here today, I love the blessing I have to have a “bus ministry,” per se, with “little children”!
God saw what I could not see. But as the passage from Proverbs 16:9 says,
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
I am grateful that God chose to use me in multiple capacities, even with my stumbling and bumbling. Proverbs 16:3 applies,
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
At that point in my life, the early 1980s, I was doing everything I knew to do to ready myself for devoting my life to ministry, but the truth of Proverbs 21:31 speaks loud and clear.
“The horse is made ready for battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
And only because of the Lord’s direction in my life could I have brought to pass Proverbs 20:5,
“The purpose of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.”
My path is set, the journey continues ahead of me, and my eye is on the prize (Philippians 3:14).
*This picture I discovered while scanning was from 10 years later,
but it was still before I had even thought about children’s ministry.
Jan 17th, 2024, Wed, 3:39 pm (Part 1)
Lift the Church…It’s Not About Us
Surprise! Another snow day. We’ve been busy, but there is more yet to accomplish. Guide my thoughts in my time with You, Father, and I pray for safety on our travels. Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (<<click here to read the passage)
I think that it’s interesting that some are drawn to things that benefit those around us or the world as a whole, and others are drawn to what benefits themselves. As I ponder that, it seems that the entire world is composed of people who fall on one side of the other. And the thing is, the Church falls into those same categories.
No one is excluded – even pastors (we are human, as well). Some are all about the Body of Christ – the Church – and others are all about themselves, though it may be under the guise of their care of the Body. Some are fooled as to what the truth is, but many are not. Many are just happy to go along for the ride, right or wrong.
Interestingly enough, the church to whom the Apostle Paul wrote – the church in Corinth that we have been reading of was a mess. You would think that this close to the beginning of Christianity, they would have had a leg up on the rest of us…but no, that was not the case. The entirety of 1 Corinthians addresses issues, and chapter 14 is no exception.
From verse 1 through verse 25, Paul speaks of people seeking the gift of tongues – speaking in other languages. It’s a gift that brings glory and attention to oneself if one is not careful. Paul stated that he, too, spoke in tongues but felt it more important that the gift of prophecy be sought after. That gift edified the Church, bringing glory and attention to the Church.
By its very nature, the gift of tongues focused on the individual unless some kind of translation was provided. If someone were to step up to the pulpit and begin speaking in German, they, for the most part, would get blank stares, and people would probably start leaving unless, by chance, they happened to understand German. On the other hand, if someone fluent in German stood by their side and translated for them, it would be a totally different story.
That’s where the problem lay in Corinth. Speaking in tongues was a flashy, look-at-me kind of gift for some, and all they cared about was being in the spotlight with everyone in awe of their ability.
Paul declared in verses 1 and 3-5,
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy… But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
May our goal be to lift the Body – the Church – with whatever gift we are blessed with. It is not about us. We are called to glorify God and to build His Kingdom. Amen!
Jan 16th, 2024, Tues, 2:23 pm
Serve One Another in Love
Thank You, Father, for a productive yet laid-back day. May our time together be all it needs to be. May my love for You shine through. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (<<click here to read the passage)
And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. AMP
At the end of verse 8, Paul wrote that love endures forever. In morally corrupt Corinth (where the recipients of this letter lived), love had become a mixed-up term with little meaning. Today, people are still confused about love.
We say we love all kinds of things. We love ice cream, puppies (or kittens!), a particular shade of lipstick, an artist’s hit song, and how well a plan comes together! I try not to use “love” about those kinds of things, but it’s hard because we hear it used that way almost every day. It’s not wrong, and it’s definitely not a sin, but, for me, at least, I try to attach love to where it is most important – God, the things of God, and others.
Another area in today’s society where love is a mixed-up term with little meaning is in many of our everyday relationships. Love is cheapened in media, be it movies, television programs, books, and other publications. Not exclusively, but in many instances, love in these scenarios is shallow, tawdry, and self-seeking. But that is not how it should be!
As my Life Application Study Bible says, Love is the greatest of all human qualities and is an attribute of God himself (1 John 4:8). Love involves unselfish service to others.
That is emphasized in the Amplified Bible’s translation here in verse 13, where it fleshes out the concept of love by stating that it is unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me.
A Ligonier article, He First Loved Us, reads, For as 1 John 4:19 tells us, “we love because he first loved us.” It is the effectual love of God that first changes our hearts in order to make us capable of love, and it is His example of love that reminds us again and again of our need to love other people.
Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is action. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves. Does your faith fully express itself in loving others?
May that be our goal every day!
Jan 15th, 2024, Mon, 7:19 pm
Truth!
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16 NLT
Tunnel Vision Mindsets
I am grateful for Your presence, Father. The direction I need to go is clear with You close at hand. May I always be mindful of that. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the greatest challenges on this side of eternity is that we tend to be stuck in tunnel vision mindsets. In almost every aspect of life, we know what we know and are not usually very receptive to changing our perspectives. We just don’t do well when it comes to understanding people outside of what we think is right and proper, or for that matter, outside of what we hold as our societal norm.
I could rattle off a half dozen of them right now, but unfortunately, there would be those who would go off – some greatly so – if it did not align with their mindset. Here’s a short list of highly polarizing issues: politics, homosexuality, abortion, trans-issues (one gender identifying as another gender), alcohol, and marijuana. People can be very verbal and nasty, to say the least, when someone of another mindset expresses their opinion.
I hesitate even writing these things out because I can feel people’s blood beginning to boil at the mere mention of them. In our arrogance, we think we know everything. We know, without the slightest bit of hesitation, that we cannot be wrong. Going down either side of this handful of issues, someone on the “other” side would explode with hatred and anger.
In wrapping up his “love” chapter, Paul makes statements regarding love being the greatest of everything he has spoken – faith, hope, and spiritual gifts included.
When we step into eternity, we will realize that,
For now [in this time of imperfection]… and this is referring to the here and now in our lives …we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. v12 AMP
My Life Application Study Bible states that – God gives believers spiritual gifts for their lives on earth…to build up, serve, and strengthen fellow Christians. The spiritual gifts are for the church.
Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. vs8-10 AMP
In eternity, we will be made perfect and complete and…in the very presence of God. We will no longer need the spiritual gifts, so they will come to an end. Then, we will have a full understanding and appreciation for one another as unique expressions of God’s infinite creativity. We will use our differences as a reason to praise God! Based on that perspective, let us treat each other with the same love and unity that we will one day share.
And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. v13 AMP
Jan 11th, 2024, Thurs, 10:23 am