and the greatest of these...
What a fool I am! Such flaws have been revealed in my thinking lately! I cannot anticipate where Jesus is leading me and then try to run ahead of Him and get there first. This desire to do so is based on a mistaken assumption that I will be more pleasing to God if I learn things quickly. That's pretty ridiculous, since I have shown myself to be less than quick on the uptake in most things spiritual. Besides, It's also a silly assumption because all wisdom comes from God, and if I seek wisdom apart from God I will not find it. Adam and Eve are a pretty good example when one seeks knowledge apart from the will of God. Jesus has given me Life, I am learning the Truth, and the Way is behing unfolded before me. Besides, I know where Jesus is leading me, to Calvary, and to Home. The point isn't to KNOW everything, all biblical history, all spiritual truth, be able to explain all the parables of Jesus. HE didn't explain most of them, the Holy Spirit will reveal truth as we grow and are able to be better trusted with the things of God. His command isn't to know, it is to love.
1 John 2:3-6
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 Corinthians: 1-2 NIV
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
The Message
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
And where does this love come from?
1 John 4:7-8
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1Timothy 1:5-7
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
Ugh. Conviction. I may affirm something with much zeal and confidence, but unless it comes in wisdom from God, then it is neither glorifying to Him, nor edifying to those who hear.
The desire for wisdom is a good thing, but the wisdom must be God's, given to me by His Spirit, and in His incredibly perfect timing. Even the Law was not given all at once. The search for knowledge for knowledge's sake is just as futile as pursuing wealth, beauty, physical love, or any of the other wonderful things God created but the devil has perverted to distract us and blind us to the truth.
Proverbs 2
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Adonai, you are Holy and Wise. Perfect in all Goodness. Thank you for leading this wayward heart, thank you for taming my wild soul. Thank you for your faithfulness. You are Good and I want to know You. You are amazing, and I am humbled that You would love and lead one such as I.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 13
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled...But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
1 John 2:3-6
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 Corinthians: 1-2 NIV
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
The Message
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
And where does this love come from?
1 John 4:7-8
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1Timothy 1:5-7
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
Ugh. Conviction. I may affirm something with much zeal and confidence, but unless it comes in wisdom from God, then it is neither glorifying to Him, nor edifying to those who hear.
The desire for wisdom is a good thing, but the wisdom must be God's, given to me by His Spirit, and in His incredibly perfect timing. Even the Law was not given all at once. The search for knowledge for knowledge's sake is just as futile as pursuing wealth, beauty, physical love, or any of the other wonderful things God created but the devil has perverted to distract us and blind us to the truth.
Proverbs 2
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Adonai, you are Holy and Wise. Perfect in all Goodness. Thank you for leading this wayward heart, thank you for taming my wild soul. Thank you for your faithfulness. You are Good and I want to know You. You are amazing, and I am humbled that You would love and lead one such as I.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 13
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled...But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
posted by Karli-Rae at 10:49 AM
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