S - 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; Psalm 40:9-11, 17 (NRSV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." … I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. … As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God."
O - The fortieth psalm belongs to David and the Corinthian correspondence to Paul … and all belongs to us, to all, who follow Jesus. The Lord does take thought of us because he loves us and calls us to love him back. He has chosen the weak and little, the poor and needy … and the truth is we are all weak and little, poor and needy. Those who don't think they are have missed the point and have become self-boasting and therefore self-deceived. This capacity is not reserved to the rich, famous and talented … it is very present in all who are human. Nevertheless, for those who recognize their true condition (blessed are the poor in spirit) the good news gets better still because not only are the poor in spirit among those whom God chooses and takes thought of, they are those whom God helps and delivers. They are those to whom and through whom his will is done on earth as it happens in heaven. His steadfast love and faithfulness are to be openly talked about. The glad news of his interest and desire for all is never to be concealed or denied … even when troubled times come upon us and God's delay (from our perspective, delay) results in bouts of discomfort, discouragement and depression (cf. the Hebrew for poor and needy) .
A - When playing games or sports as a kid growing up, the beginning of each game held the choosing of captains and then the choosing of teams. The captains were always those who held the greatest skill and they chose with the same modus operandi. What this meant for me is that I was never among the captains always among the last chosen. This is the way of competition and sports. However, in real, lasting and forever life there is a major shift. The captain actually is the best of the best, the unparalleled and unequaled of the human race, Jesus. He then chooses his team -- and this is where the game of life has been forever changed. He chooses the weak and little, the poor and needy, the clumsy and awkward, the rejected and disabled. He chooses for love not for talent, for relationship not for performance, for forever not for the duration of a game or the completion of a task. Though the competition is fierce and the stakes real, he never loses and never is at a loss as to the next move. He is never without the capacity to turn the tide, to turn the tables, to turn everything on a dime. This great captain takes thought of me, chooses me, helps and delivers me. While I join King David in his ‘do not delay’ expressions I also join him in the constant affirmation of the Lord's great goodness, spectacular brilliance and awesome power. Today, I need to be glad I'm on the team, confident in the outcome (no matter how it looks right now) and play my heart out … its how he's playing today and everyday!
P - Captain of the Team and Lord of all,
How will I ever be able to thank you enough for choosing me (us) right off the bat? No hesitation, no delay, no carefully weighing of the odds. Openly, diligently and without reservation you make your choice for the world to see. I ask for your help and deliverance on the inside and in our/my situation. I ask that you would help me, come what may, to play my heart out each day and every day while it is called today. Let me be, little and weak though I am, a channel of your life and blessing to others, an encouragement to ALL my other team members and a reason for someone else to join the team (believe). Lord, thank you for leading, for being the way, for requiring me to believe, to trust and enabling me to serve the Living God.
Game on,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment