Day 11 of our Bible reading campaign is upon us. I got to thinking today that for some it may seem to be too late to start, but it is never too late to start reading God’s word. So, if you are interested in joining with me and my church in reading the whole New Testament go to CBEresources.com/nt and download the reading guide, eBook and MP3. You wont regret the investment of time; and money is no object, because it’s free! Let me know how you are doing on your reading. I would love to hear from you and be encouraged through what God is saying to you.
Today’s reading took in the first part of the book of 1 Corinthians. I believe this is an incredibly apropos book for those of us who live in 2015, because the truths, challenges and admonitions in it are very similar to what we as a people are facing in our world today.
Here is what I got from today’s reading.
From where have we come? That is one of the many themes about which Paul writes in this section of 1 Corinthians. He reminds the Corinthian followers that in the calling that Jesus had made to them that “not many…were wise by human standards” nor “influential” or even “noble” by birth. They were just common folk. And the power in this was God working in them to bring them to a place where they could have a standing in which they could have never imagined. A standing where they had eternal life, a future with the Lord, a life here and now in which they could exercise a love that was, by all intents and purposes, other worldly in nature.
They were, like the rags to riches metaphor, taken from the farm, barefoot, shoddily dressed, ill spoken and rough, then given the keys to the King’s palace, free reign within that context and given a new life with a higher level of EVERYTHING.
But like many of us (myself included), we get the entrance into the “glory” and all of a sudden, we forget from whence we came.
Paul tries to remind the Corinthians about this in their very own experience. He says to them, “God chose the foolish things of the world…the weak things…the lowly things…the despised…and the things that are not.” Well, that about sums up His choosing me and I would suspect that is mostly everyone’s experience. He took us from where we were and gave us His Kingdom through His Son, Jesus.
I am glad he gave me this wonderful privilege. I now have access to God directly. I now have a future with Him for eternity. I now have the capacity to confront any challenge the world can throw at me in His power. This is the common blessing for anyone who has come to a saving knowledge in Jesus. But why do we get uppity like we have no past?
I have been the chaplain for a major league soccer team now for 10 years going on 11. In that time, I have seen this whole scenario played out in the entrance of the gifted new soccer player into the team. Almost without failure, the newbie is tentative, respectful, open, hungry, and absolutely clear as to his previous state in either amateur soccer or some lower level pro soccer. He knows from where he has come and is acutely aware of where he has arrived. I love these guys at this place. They still remember from where they have come and honestly appreciate the glory at the place where they have arrived.
Later on, however, some forget the bumpy, potholed fields on which they learned to play the beautiful game. They forget the orange slices at halftime and mom and dad cheering from their lawn chairs every Saturday morning. They forget the passion that they once had of just wanting to kick the ball around with friends in their new found placement on the national scene and they become glory unto themselves.
I have discovered that the players that survive and thrive, in that context, are the ones that never forget from where they have come.
That is what Paul is trying to say to the followers of Christ in that ancient Greek city. Yes, we have been given the whole universe by the King of the Universe. Yes, we have been blessed with a new power and hope that will endure forever. Yes, we have a family, the church, that actually can be a blessing rather than a curse. Yes, we have community, now, with all those who call the name of Jesus. But we should never forget from what place we have come without Him.
I hope we remember this.
I hope you can continue with me every day of our Bible reading. Blessings!
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