Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Freedoms and "Rights"


"But beware lest somehow this liberty of your become a stumbling block to those who are weak." 
1 Corinthians 8:9


     Paul here is addressing a common issue in the culture of the day. Certain foods were used as an offering to idols. Certainly the food itself was not evil but what it was used for had a chance for stumbling. He addresses the freedom the believer has to eat as he pleases, but that if it gives way to stumble another---true Christian character would gladly lay down a "right" out of a deeper love for a brother or sister in Christ. I think of examples in my life of godly people who have chosen to live above reproach. You will not find them at the neighborhood community dwelling having innocent fun because of the evil that likewise takes place in the same walls. You will never find them alone with someone of the other gender to be found above reproach. You will not find them purchase any juice in a bottle that could be mistaken for alcohol. Does this seem over the top? Perhaps to some,  but I see it as wisdom of love. Knowledge is understanding that some things can yield way to stumbling and knowing what is right and wrong, but wisdom is discerning how to apply that knowledge in love. Wisdom of love is choosing to lay down something for the sake of another, to ensure that it does not stumble them in any way. Knowledge looks at the rules and determines what one can and cannot do, but wisdom looks from all views of how it may be perceived or misinterpreted and chooses to draw a straight and narrow boundary line for the sake of another and the protection of a godly reputation. This is the principle Paul was trying to express to the Corinthian church. Haveing a knowledge and understanding of the times and what was or was not permitted for a believer, he challenges the hearts of the believers to exercise wisdom of love, and choose to refrain from anything that could stumble one who is weaker in the faith and liberty of Jesus Christ. He goes as far as to warn that if one who is stronger in the faith stumbles the conscience of a weaker brother, he has sinned against Christ. Paul was willing to change daily habits, such as the food he chose to eat, for the sake of others growing in their faith. What am I willing to lay down for the sake of another growing closer to God. Perhaps it's a tv show, a type of music, a social media thing, a habit? Today I will ask the Lord to reveal to me anything that I allow in my life, through the freedom of Christ, that may be required of me to exercise wisdom of love and lay down for the sake of another. I will also pray that the Lord would give me a sensitive and willing heart to quickly lay down anything that could be a struggle for one weaker in the faith, regardless of my rights and freedoms in it.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Sufficient Grace

"My grace is sufficient for you." 2 Corinthians 12:9

This is a verse we have heard countless times. It has been used, and sadly abused in its interpretation. How often you hear the phrase, "grace, grace, grace!" Truly grace is the greatest gift of God to us, demonstrated by the life, death, and resurrected life of Jesus Christ. However it has been taken for granted or talked of as this cushion-room for safety for when we sin. Is this a wrong picture? In some ways yes, in others no. Certainly Gods grace becomes to us a cushion of comfort when we go astray, but that is only to a broken and truly repentant heart, used as a cushion for a heart sorry for the consequences wrought from sin or a heart that feels bad, but not repentant is an abuse of Gods grace.
I'm looking at this passage from a new point of view, as a response. Paul explains to us that there was something in his life, "a messenger of Satan" that was buffeting him. We do not know what it was---a constant temptation perhaps? A physical infermity? Condemnation from his past? We know not the details, but we know that it was a continuous blow to him. Something that was beating him down. So much so that he tells us that he pleaded with God for it to be removed from his life---not just once, it was something that burdened his walk with the Lord. Yet the response of God to him was this, "My grace is sufficient for you." I perceive it like this, "Paul, whatever difficulty is pressing against you, whatever is troubling your heart, whatever is present that you wish was not, my grace provides enough for you to face it." Sufficient---plain and simple, it means enough. No lack, no surpluss, enough for the need.
God goes on to reveal to Paul that if he receives the first, acceptance that His grace will be enough, and he has no need for the removal of his difficulty, THEN, he would see the promise, of Gods strength made perfect through the difficulty. The obstacle of the enemy is Gods platform for His glorification. 
Too often, I think a Christian facing a challenge, a temptation, a struggle, doesn't get to see Gods full design in His allowance of it because they are not allowing His grace to be applied for what it is. The sufficiency of it to a broken and contrite spirit. The total enough of it, needing not to run from the challenge. God is looking to build character in His children, and character is not built with the removal of difficulties but with the strength of endurance to walk through them. To buffet back at the buffet against oneself. To pull down the stronghold that is pulling you down. A heart that is allowing Gods grace to be more than a cushion, but a foundation, and a confidence--a sufficiency, can then see His strength show forth in the battle against the difficulty at hand. A heart that accepts its own weakness can then receive His great strength.