Meditation on I
Cor. 1:1-9
Jan. 19, 2014
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ
Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in
Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,
together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ. I give
thanks to my God always for you
because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been
enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among
you— so that you are not lacking
in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the
end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were
called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
***
I am glad to be back worshiping with you after being off a week for vacation.
Some of you are asking if we went
somewhere warm. No, we didn’t leave Minnesota. Jim and I enjoyed some time with
our sons at home. James and Jacob are back in college now—and we dropped Josh off
at the airport so he could return to his air base in California. We also took
care of some household chores, errands and car maintenance.
The one thing I didn’t do that I had hoped to do on my vacation was
finish a book for a seminary class I am taking next month. The book is called, How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs
and the Power of New Ideas. With good intentions and without making any
real progress with my homework, I carried the book with me to the airport in
the Twin Cities with Josh, to Mankato with James, and even to the Kandi Mall
while I waited for my car’s oil change and tire rotation. Sprawled on a loveseat
in front of Famous Footwear, I read maybe three pages when two women appeared.
I looked up to see them smiling down at me.
One said to the other, “I think she’ll be nice and let you sit down. I
think she’ll be nice.” Then she flopped on the one empty chair to my right.
The other, still smiling, stood in front of me. “That’s OK,” she said,
glancing at my coat and purse spread across the sofa. “I’ll stand. I like
standing.”
Chuckling a little, I put down my book, and
moved my belongings so the other woman could sit on my left. Now I am usually a
“people person.” I often talk to people I don’t know when I am out. And strangers
often begin conversations with me. But this time, concerned about my own needs
and desires, I hesitated for a moment with my coat in hand, considering moving
to another location where I could continue my reading.
“Thank
you!” said the lady, interrupting my thoughts, as she happily dropped into the
seat beside me. “Sometimes people are nice,” she said, then paused and
added, “Sometimes, they’re not.”
Well, it would have been rude to leave after that!
So I smiled, put my coat aside, and, still determined to be the conscientious
student, I picked up my book once more.
Less than a minute had passed when the woman
to my left shook her head and said, “You’re just like my mother! She’s always
reading books!”
I reluctantly lifted my eyes from the page and looked into her face, really looked at her, as she looked back
at me with my book—in admiration. Understanding dawned. She wasn’t a reader,
but not because she didn’t want to be. She and her friend were adults with
special needs—physical and cognitive. Why hadn’t I noticed sooner?
I closed my book and surrendered
myself to the conversation that was meant to be. She asked if I liked animals.
She liked dogs, but didn’t have any. She giggled as I showed her pictures of my
pets on my cell phone. We talked about her mom, sister, and the group home
where she and her friend lived with other adults with disabilities. She grew
excited when I told her I lived in Renville. Her sister used to work at the Sugar
Beet Plant in Renville. Telling her that I worked for a church stirred an
enthusiastic discussion of the church they attend and love—the Salvation Army. Salvation
Army congregations intentionally reach out to people with great needs—those living
in poverty and people with disabilities, mental illness, or drug and alcohol
addictions.
“The Salvation Army is kind to people,” I agreed. “Some churches do a good job of helping people in need…”
I
stopped mid thought, before I said anything critical. How could I criticize some
churches for not reaching out to people in need when my first reaction to two
gentle strangers wanting to sit beside me was to look for another place to go?
But the gentle strangers didn’t hesitate to speak
what I only thought. They spoke as if from experience when they said together, “And
some churches don’t.”
***
Paul was also bold when it came
to speaking about churches failing to do what they are called to do. He felt responsible for faith communities such
as Corinth, where he had preached and shepherded believers for 18 months.
Corinth was a prosperous city on the Isthmus of Corinth, the land bridge
connecting the Peloponnese with Central and Northern Greece. The city, with its
two ports, was in a great position for commercial enterprise and missionary
activities; it lay “at the junction of sea routes to the west and east and land
routes to the north and south.” [1]
Paul writes to the Corinthians when he learns they are embroiled in
conflict, arguing over leadership, doctrine and application of the faith. He
hears reports of sexual immorality and lawsuits amongst believers. What kind of
loving witness is this? Paul appeals to them in the name of Jesus Christ. Let there
be no more divisions! No more quarreling! Be united in the same mind and
purpose!
But before Paul launches into his lengthy criticism, he offers a passage
of encouragement. This encouraging passage is today’s Epistle reading. He tells them that they are
the church of God that is in Corinth
because God is faithful. And that Paul thanks God for them always. And that they have everything they need in God’s grace, given to them in Jesus Christ. They are not
lacking in any spiritual gift as they wait for Christ’s revealing—His return
for His church. My favorite part is when
Paul says, “He will also strengthen you
to the very end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”
Friends, every church has its weaknesses. Ebenezer has had its ups and
downs. We are a healthy, Spirit-filled congregation, but like the church at
Corinth, we are a long way from the perfect, self-giving example of Jesus
Christ.
But I am here to tell you that I give thanks to God for you always! And
that we are still His church. Because God
is faithful! When we stumble and fall, He lifts us up, guides us to the
right path, and draws us nearer to Him. He heals old wounds. He brings
reconciliation where there is brokenness.
His grace in Jesus Christ is all that we need! He will strengthen us to
the end!
My brief encounter with the two gentle
strangers, adults with special needs, sisters in the faith, was a reminder that
if I want the Lord to use me for His work, if I want to make a difference, then
I better be ready to let Him use me whenever and wherever He wants.
And if I want to change the world, I better
start with me!
We can’t walk in His ways without reaching out to a neighbor or a
stranger and seeking to help someone in need.
As I got up to leave the two women at the mall, I told them that I
enjoyed our conversation. I asked them if they needed a ride somewhere. If
there was anything I could do for them.
They laughed and said no.
I hoped to see them again, I said.
“Oh, you will!” said the lady to my right, conviction in her voice.
She turned to the other lady and said, “See, I told you she would be
nice.”
I started to walk away, then looked down at my empty hand and realized I
was missing something. But what?
My book, How to Change the World…
lay forgotten on the sofa.
Let us pray.
Holy One, thank you for your faithfulness!
We give you thanks and praise for your grace in Jesus Christ—grace that is all
that we need. Awaken in us a desire to walk
with you as humbly and obediently as Christ walked. Thank you for lifting us up when we fall and bringing
reconciliation to families, neighborhoods, churches, communities—wherever there
is brokenness. Teach us to be faithful
witnesses to your love and grace all of our days. Help us to be encouragers—to
lift one another up just as Paul encouraged his brothers and sisters in the
faith. Show us how we can make a difference in this world by reaching out to
people in need. And opening ourselves to your Spirit, now and forever, so that
we may be changed! We surrender all to you today, giving you our hearts, our
minds, our hands, our very lives to Jesus Christ. In Him we pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment