Friday, November 09, 2007

Job 34; 1 Corinthians 4-6


Paul writes so authoritatively in the book of Corinthians. So passionately about stuff that is so hard to hear. What to do with it now?

1 Corinthians 4: 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
To as a believer, follower of Christ be subjected to such…. are there those now who are? Is that what keeps me from wanting what YOU want more than anything. That whole wanting to be ‘well thought of’ by people instead of focusing totally and compeletly on you? To be thought of as the refuse of the world, well I wouldn’t allow that would I? .... that I won’t keeps me from fully and completely following You? Would it, does it happen now? Are any of us so sold out for Jesus as to be counted here? What’s changed?
1 Corinthians 6: 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers! 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
Lawyers are a part of life, why not rather be wronged….would I allow that? Now I have never yet had occasion to hire a lawyer but would I?
It is just all so hard to hear and what to do with the hearing of it and not my place to tell anyone else but for me should the occasion arise would I simply NOT hire a lawyer and allow myself to be wronged??
But we never have clear consciences…Paul claims as did Job to be clear of conscience, telling me they are closer to God than I can ever hope to be or that in coming close to God, seeking to follow Christ we become more in touch with our inner selves and that ‘in touch’ we come closer to having that clear conscience?
To want what God wants more than anything…….that this is so tough to read and apply to my life means I still want what I want and yet desiring to apply it will bring me more in touch with choosing, knowing everything is a choice and choosing counterintuitively?

2 comments:

rebecca said...

great pictures.

I wonder at times when we seek GOD with all we have He exposes that within us to show us how much we truly need Him.

just thoughts

becky

Laura said...

Interesting observation. It's so hard sometimes to want what God wants knowing that that's outside of what we want. Yet, that was a constant sttuggle for Paul and I think it is for us too. I know what God wants me to do, but I am terrified to do it.

There are so many people in Scripture who battled the same things that we do. At least we are not alone.