A Life Worthy

All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future– all are yours, and you are of Christ… (1 Corinthians 3:23).

Woah there, pardner.

Don’t let that one go by too fast.

You

are

of

Christ.

Do you fully understand what that means?

Yeah, no, me neither.

But I get this much–I belong to Jesus, and with him.  In some way that my little brain can’t grasp I am a part of him, and he of me.  Because Jesus loves me and died for me and rose for me I am covered in his holiness, his righteousness, his power, his grace, his…him.

It makes no sense at all…and yet it is the only thing that makes any sense at all.

Can I get a Hallelujah this morning?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world, or life or death … (1 Corinthians 3:22).

Mortal life, while it lasts, is a grand adventure.  Explore his creation, his people, his power here on Earth.  Grow in the depth of your understanding of our wonderful God, knowing that the best of life here is but a pale reflection of the glorious forever to come.

Mortal death, when he brings it in his time and by his command, is a release from pain and fear and stress and sadness.  It is its own adventure, the necessary path to knowing him with more fullness and more depth than this brain of flesh can ever attain.  

All is yours,

all is good,

and

all is well.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas  (1 Corinthians 3:22).

Here’s the great thing about following God:

You get the best of everything.

Think about it.  When you follow a person, you get the good, the bad, the ugly, the unpleasant, the less-than-acceptable, and the downright icky.  You also get the guilts if you decide to sample some teaching elsewhere, because folks tend to get pretty territorial.  So, you might miss out on some good teaching just because the person you’re tied to doesn’t ascribe to it.

But if you’re following Christ…

The very best that Paul or Apollos or Cephas or Ted or anyone else can come up with will simply be a reflection of God’s truth.  You’ll recognize it as such, because you’ll be so grounded in God’s Word that Truth will resonate and lies will nauseate.  

Hmm…Truth will resonate and lies will nauseate…I like that.

Anyway, follow Christ, Beloved.  The best of the rest will follow.

Happy Wednesday

As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:19-20)

Things I’ve seen in the media over the past few weeks…

Demonstrators protesting against angry and hateful rhetoric by burning flags and destroying property…

A woman who preaches tolerance confronting a man because she is offended by his hair style…

Students who claim to promote the First Amendment refusing to let a candidate speak at their school…

A movement that is vehement about protecting a woman’s safety and privacy applauding rules that allow a man to enter a public restroom while a little girl is in there, or a college boy to use a dorm bathroom while women are showering…

The wisdom of Man is derived from and focused on…well…Man.

Man is inherently selfish, unstable, and full of contradictions.

And we wonder why the world is in the shape it’s in?

Beloved, this is not about politics.  It is a reminder of what happens when we substitute our “wisdom” for the wisdom of Almighty God.

Nothing good

Walk in his wisdom today, Beloved.

Happy Monday

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 (1 Corinthians 3:18).

OK boys and girls, it’s time for a spiritual self-check!

How much do you want to be like Jesus?

No…really

Are you willing for your neighbors, your colleagues–the world–to think you’re a fool?

Are you ready for them to call you a fool?

Because they will, you know…if you really follow.

Do you really want wisdom?

Every once in awhile, we need to stop and count the cost again.

This is one of those awhiles.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.