DISCOMFORTING

DISCOMFORTING

Monday, March 31, 2014

 

1Corinthians [GW] 13:1-13 [Apostle Paul penned] I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing. 3 I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don't have love, none of these things will help me. 4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant. 5 It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs. 6 It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. 8 Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used. 9 Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete. 10 But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways. 12 Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me. 13 So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.

2Timothy [GW] 3:16-17 Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval. 17 They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.

 

  Have you ever been in social or public settings and felt uncomfortable at something said or done? I have, and you have.

  In reaction to any of those uncomfortable moments . . . did you file a court case against the offending person(s)? I have not, and doubt any of you reading this have ever done so.

  There are however those that do, and do so in total contradiction of their stated expectation for society to tolerate them and what they stand for.

  Oddly, one of their major arguments in court is the plaintiff(s) suffered discomfort.

  Since when is discomfort grounds for prosecution? Was not the first case Cain experiencing discomfort in reaction to the words of God? And then history since; so let us not think we Christians in USA are exception to the rule when we are experiencing the natural way of man apart from godly love.

  To equip and prepare, our Lord had Paul write of this customariness “… all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Tim.3:12)

  Are we comfortable with this truth about godliness with its contentment is great gain?  (1Tim.6:6) EBB4