A Life Worthy

However, as it is written:  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”  (1 Corinthians 2:9).

It’s inconceivable.

Go ahead.  Try to imagine what it will be like

to be in his presence

to be like him

to be complete.

Do you have a picture in your head?  Great!

You’re not even close.  

You’re a toddler who’s been promised a trip to the beach.  You’ve never been to the beach, but you’ve been told about it.  

The beach has sand–but so does your sandbox.

The beach has water–but so does your bathtub.

The beach has waves–but you’ve been to a swimming pool, and you’ve seen how the water slops around after a big kid does a cannonball.

You know what to expect.

Except not at all.

Inconceivable

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

 

None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8).

They meant well enough.

They wanted to protect their world, improve their society

maybe pad their bank accounts–and legacies–a bit

but all in all, they were doing what they thought best.

However

they were making decisions without the Holy Spirit, operating in the wisdom of the world, which isn’t.

And in that worldly wisdom they wrought horror and abomination.

Sound familiar?

Take heart, Beloved.  God used their foolishness, their evil acts, to demonstrate his power and glory.  

And God has a habit of repeating himself.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

We’re surrounded by presidential wanna-be’s.

It’s an election year, so the candidates are everywhere; primping and posing and posturing and preparing to present their potential presidential prowess.

I wanna run and hide in my sock drawer just to escape them.

A year from now, one of these…people will be the leader of our nation, the Commander-in-Chief of our military, arguably the most powerful individual on the planet.

And yet, if that person does not have Christ, they will come to nothing.

Their power, their wisdom, their influence…la nada grande.

Remember that in today’s post-primary pandemonium.  

We may vote for a president, but we serve a King.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

The cross.

Paul just keeps coming back to it.

As should we

Beloved, there is a constant temptation before us to rely on our own skills, our own talents, our own hard work.  It’s at the core of our being.

Sometimes it spurs us to do great things.

Mostly, it drives us from God.

Paul didn’t want to risk people following him rather than Jesus, so he kept it simple:

God loves you.

He died for you, because he loves you.

Your debt has been paid, because he loves you.

Come be free, because he loves you.

As you dive into your week, remember: no matter what your job is, your mission is simple.

Show them the cross.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by the world’s standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things–and things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Remember the story of Baalam and his donkey?  

That would be you.

No…not Baalam.

And just as God used a lowly donkey to school a prophet, God can and will and does use you.  

Yes, you are weak.  

You’re right, you don’t know the Bible as well as you ought.

Your prayer life?  Well, I wasn’t going to use the word “pathetic,” but if you insist…

Doesn’t mean he won’t use you.

Of course, he may not use you in the way you lobbied for.  I keep pointing out to God how well he could use me as a multibillionaire writer/speaker/boogie dancer.  He has not yet seen fit to take my advice.

Go figure.

Still, I trust that he is using me, teaching in my little classroom, writing my little blog, loving my little family.

And he’s using you.  Trust me.

Better yet, trust Him.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.