Sunday, March 6, 2011

1 Corinthians 1

3 comments:

Berry Girl said...

"For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong" (v26-27)

Amazing HOW MUCH God's ways are not ours. There is such a gap between our understanding and His.
This also encourages me that I don't have to be wise, or strong, or perfect, but God will use me not in spite of those things but also BECAUSE of those things.

Unknown said...

From my intro to 1st Cor.

"An Indian was walking up a mountain when he heard a voice. "Carry me with you," it requested.

The Indian turned and saw a snake. He refused. "If I carry you up the mountain, you will bite me."

"I wouldn't do that," the snake assured. "All I need is some help. I am slow and you are fast; please be kind and carry me to the top of the mountain."

It was against his better judgment but the Indian agreed. He picked up the snake, put him in his shirt, and resumed the journey. When they reached the top,he reached in his shirt to remove the snake and got bit.

He fell to the ground and the snake slithered away. "You lied!" the Indian cried, "You said you wouldn't bite me."

The snake stopped and looked back, " I didn't lie. You knew who I was when you picked me up." We hear the legend and we shake our heads. He should have known better, we bemoan. And we are right. He should have. And so should we.

But don't we do the same? Don't we believe the lies of the snake? don't we pick up what we should leave alone? The Corinthian Christians did. One snake after another had hissed his lies in their ears and they believed it. How many lies did they believe?

How much time do you have? The list is long and ugly. sectarianism, disunity, sexual immorality and that is only the first six chapters.

But 1 Corinthians is more than a list of sins. It is an epistle of patience. Paul initiates the letter by calling these Christians "brothers and sisters". He could have called them heretics and hypocrites (and in so many words he does), but not before he calls them brothers and sisters.

He patiently teaches them about worship, unity, the role of women, and the Lord's Supper. He writes as if he can see them face to face. He is disturbed but not despondent. Angry but not desperate. His driving passion is love. And his treatise on love in chap 13 remains the greatest essay ever penned.

The letter, however personal, is not just for Corinth. It is for all who have heard the whisper and felt the fangs.

We, like the Indian, should have known better. We, like the Corinthians, sometimes need a second chance.

Unknown said...

Still playing a bit of catch up here.

"God, who has called you to share everything with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

Sharing everything with Jesus, his death, his resurrection, his suffering, his victory. It's such an amazing concept.

The whole section on worldly wisdom amounting to foolishness in the face of the gospel, and vice versa is so remarkable. "God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong." The gospel stands alone with its message of "believe in my message and you will be saved." no achieving, just receiving. Receiving truth. Receiving life.