| | Further Frustration.Some of you out there know exactly how I feel. Ya know, I despise frustration but I think it is a blessing-in-disguise if it can drive me closer to Christ.
Yesterday I had a bad headache and took some Excedrin Migraine around 8pm. Of course, Excedrin doesn't just have aspirin in it, but caffeine. So... after taking it at 8pm, I was wide awake for a good portion of the night.
I spent some of this time simply relaxing in the living room, enjoying watching our new cats play. Then I decided to go "chew" on some 1 Corinthians. ...I was convicted over several issues. I think I started in chapter 4 for some reason... dunno 
Ya know... I don't even know where to start. Last night I was humbled, and I think even... "quieted" by some of the verses I read... I'm not sure how to explain that, but I did experience a calming while at the same time being convicted.
Not sure what that means... so where does that leave me?
The first verse that hit me was 1 Corinthians 4:6.
"Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." (NASB)
The part that stood out to me was "learn not to exceed what is written"... the issue of the authority of Scripture played through my mind and I was reminded that there are some who'd say, "you don't have to follow the Bible as long as you're truly sure in your heart of what to do." And I'm always like... ok what is the basis for that belief? We are accused as believers of having some kind of "blind faith"... but then these strange secular ideas come at us with no apparent rationality behind them. This confuses me 
Another issue that struck me was the idea of judging... and even just in this moment something else connected.
1 Corinthians 6:1-6 (NASB)
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,
6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Paul makes so many good points here... I was hit by this. And then today I thought, what would actually become if we simply judged each other in accordance with Scripture? A believer judging another believer is Scriptural... what would it look like? Well, elsewhere Scripture tells us to "let your gentleness be evident to all" and of course to be considerate of each other. In that light, I think I'd rather be judged by fellow believers who have my best interest in mind and the interest of the gospel.
I learned many other things by reading through most of 1 Corinthians last night... it amazes me, I've read through the book a number of times, but each time I return to it I get something new, like reading it for the first time. Pretty amazing I think.
Ya know what? I'm slow. Heh... I think I was in college by the time I realized that the *reason* our Bibles are often leather-bound is to keep them from showing wear as quickly... because hey, paper back books that are read and referenced often and over and over get beat up pretty quickly... especially if they are carried everywhere and taken with a person all the time. Even a hardcover book will start falling apart after enough time... but the leather seems to help slow that process... heh. (one of those "good job Sherlock" moments, eh?)
And then I think of all the beautiful leather-bound Bibles sitting in people's homes... still looking beautiful... rarely touched  I want to break out of that pattern. I confess that weeks go by where I do not pick up my Bible and read it. I hate this practice... why do I allow that, when I enjoy reading it so much? Last night was like a feast, spiritually. I got SO MUCH out of just 1 Corinthians! That's just one book! I felt good and content going to bed. And convicted... somehow.
Yummy boiled eggs
I'm frustrated at a number of things right now. Ideas, and people. I guess I'm being humbled, because I've decided (against my stronger desire) to step out of some discussions because I feel they aren't going anywhere productive. Yup, it's against the desire of my ego... but I think that's exactly the point here. I could stick around and argue my point... but it has become clear to me that the people who are against me are not really looking to learn from the Word, but it seems like the objective is to justify choices. *sigh*
Jesus, return soon. *cries a little* |
