S - 1
Corinthians 3:17-20 (NIV): “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy
him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. Do not deceive
yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age,
he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches
the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the
thoughts of the wise are futile.""
O - The
term "destroy" is fqeivrw:
properly to shrivel or wither, that is, to spoil (by any process), to ruin,
corrupt (self), defile, destroy. What is the assault on God's temple being
warned against? What is this destructive
activity which, according to Scripture, will garner an identical response from
the Almighty? Answer: Division (e.g. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13)! A boasting which separates believers one from
another (e.g. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23); a choosing of sides which promotes a
disconnect between the brothers (e.g. 1 Corinthians 3:3-4). Disunity is no
small matter to the spiritual condition of God's people/temple and is not
viewed as a misdemeanor by him. It withers, destroys, defiles and shrivels that
which is sacred to God and which he desires, loves and wants all people to participate
in. In the Kingdom of God the temple is
not a place, a building, a religious organization or observance … it is
comprised of individual living stones (people) each one worth an incalculable
amount; each one so desired that Jesus would literally rather die than be
without them; and so cherished by him that he refers to the whole of them as
his bride.
A - The
world, secular and religious, accepts disunity and division as often necessary or at least unavoidable in a world
with collateral damage. Jesus' response to betrayers wasn't to throw them out
or denounce them but to love them and engage them (this was true for Judas,
Peter and those who crucified him).
Jesus has called me/us to only one assignment which, according to him,
will cause the world to know that the Father sent him and that I am/we are his
followers. This will happen, he says, if we (his followers) will love each
other, i.e. are without division (John 17:23).
21 centuries later we still don't think this will work and won't do
it. I bring this up , not to accuse
others but to embrace getting and keeping the beam out of my own eye. Today, and every day, my primary assignment
remains the same: love God with my all and all others as myself. Regardless of another's view of me (brother,
neighbor or enemy) the assignment for me is the same, love. This will keep
me/us from the destruction of that which God as identified as sacred. Love does
not divide nor accuse, does not boast, is not rude … it always hopes, always protects, always perseveres (cf. 1
Corinthians 13:1-7).
P - Lord
who is love,
I admit that this primary
assignment, which is your primary response to all, is simple and clear but it
is not how I was taught nor is it easy to my flawed thinking and living.
Nevertheless, you have promised to never leave nor forsake me. You not only show me the way you are the way
and you are love. So, forgive me for all the times I've chosen or boasted
thinking I was defending truth or faith while in reality I was shrinking
that/those which you hold sacred. You
always start at love, lead with mercy and then face the facts. I've been trained to start with facts which
then appear to require a no mercy response which is then labeled love. I do choose to repent and welcome the work of
your irrepressible life and spirit to enable me to prove it by my deeds. Jesus,
I'd like very much to be a reason someone else might believe.
All my love,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment