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1 Corinthians: You Have All the Gifts You Need |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Wednesday, 01 September 2010 05:31 |
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Paul wrote, "In every way you have been enriched in Him, in speech and knowledge of every kind . . . so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:5-7).
I believe this message is for each local church, and it goes like this. This church lacks no gift that the Holy Spirit could give for its leadership and the fulfillment of God’s plan for it. Whatever God’s plan is for this church, He has given this church what it needs to do the plan. We have in our midst the people gifted by the Holy Spirit to develop this church into what God wants it to be. When key people move away, or when someone gets hurt and stops participating, there is even then, here in our church, whatever God needs here at this time.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church further advice by which we may learn and grow. Paul's advice in the first section of his letter could be summarized, "In your differences, don't fight." His advice in the second section of his letter could be summarized, "Give no offense to the church." His advice in the third section of his letter could be summarized, "You have all the gifts you need."
"In your differences, don't fight" means to me that we will hear our differences, we may have very different sermons or music from week to week for awhile, we will listen to someone who is overworked and perhaps reduce our expectations for awhile, of that person, maybe of the whole church. In all our differences, we won't fight.
"Give no offense to the church" means to me that we will purge ourselves and guard our congregation from any willingness to purposely offend someone. Arrogance is out. We will give no offense to our fellow church members.
"You have all the gifts you need" means to me that, when we're doing the first two pieces of Paul's advice, we will see something brilliant emerge here because God has placed within us all the gifts we need to be the church He desires in this place at this time.
Paul wrote, "In every way you have been enriched in Him, in speech and knowledge of every kind . . . so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:5-7). |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 September 2010 05:38 |
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Hebrews 11 & 12: Looking unto Jesus |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:52 |
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"Since there are so many faithful people in the stands, let us run our race well, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.... Consider him... lest you get tired and your mind gets weak" (Hebrews 12: 1-3). This comment from Paul comes immediately after the faith chapter, so the "faithful people in the stands" are the people cited in Hebrews 11 with a "By faith so-and-so did such-and-such."
I used to puzzle in my bed at night just how to "look to Jesus." I wanted to do it. I would shut my eyes tight (that’s how you pray, right), or peer through the dark, or decide that tomorrow I would lie on my back looking up far up into the sky for a long time. For all my efforts, I couldn’t see what I was sure was there, my Jesus.
Then I got a hint: Faith is seeing in the mind! That’s why "faith is the evidence of things not seen otherwise" (Hebrews 11:1).
That’s why Paul could say of people with faith, "Not having received the things promised, they saw them and were persuaded and embraced them" (Hebrews 11:13).
"Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God. . . . Don’t just go on being like everything around you, but be changed by having your mind changed" (Romans 6:11: 12:2).
Apparently I can choose how I think and what will occupy my mind. "Consider him (who is the author and finisher of our faith) so you won’t get tired and your mind get weak" (Hebrews 12:1-3). |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:58 |
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Hebrews 11:6: Faith Does What? |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Sunday, 29 August 2010 18:42 |
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By faith Abel offered sacrifice. By faith Noah made an ark. By faith Abraham went out and journeyed. By faith Sarah conceived. By faith Moses chose to suffer with God’s people and left Egypt and passed through the Red Sea. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.
Apparently faith is anything but passive. Apparently faith enables quite impressive action!
Getting closer to definition, Hebrews 11:6 describes two additional things that faith does. Faith, or the person coming to God in faith, must believe that God is, and must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
In Exodus 3:14 God’s name is said to be "I AM." In three Gospel instances someone says to Jesus, "YOU ARE the Christ." Here, the person of faith needs to say "HE IS" in the absence of Jesus’ visible presence. Faith responds to the person of God in a relationship of affirmation, basking in that which GOD IS.
I find it interesting to note the name is not "I DO" but "I AM," and what faith believes is not that "HE DOES" but that "HE IS." I too often want God to DO, DO, DO for me while I DO, DO, DO for God. I need to remember that God’s first command to humans was to BE. "BE fruitful" God said (Genesis 1:28).
Faith is BEING together. Faith is seeking God and knowing God rewards that seeking with the "I AM" presence. And yes, BEING together enables quite impressive action! |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 29 August 2010 18:52 |
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Philippians 2:6-11: Down and Back |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Monday, 30 August 2010 19:16 |
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An Early Christian Hymn or Recitation:
Jesus was God
Not greedy of reputation
Made himself a servant
Became human
Obedient to death
Death on a cross
Therefore God exalted Him
Gave him a high name
Every knee will bow
Every tongue will confess
That Jesus is Lord.
Christianity is the only religion whose God dies for humans. This is the objection of some, that a God whose system requires that God kill God’s own Son is not a good God to worship. On the other hand, I place the sacrifice of Christ in a category with wartime buddies in the face of great danger who sacrifice their lives so others can live. For me, this is not a father sacrificing his son for some satisfaction, but a buddy sacrificing himself to avert danger from his friends.
Then what was the great danger? I believe the original choice that placed this planet in the position of going on without God put humans in great danger. If God is the source of continuing life and I have chosen against God, then I will die. That is the danger. Christ entered that danger to give me another chance to choose life.
Seeing things in this light is a choice I have made. I like to recite the early Christian hymn. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 30 August 2010 19:23 |
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August 29, 2010 Lectionary |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Saturday, 28 August 2010 00:00 |
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Creation is to be astonished and horribly afraid at the stupidity of humans to forsake the living Source and carve out their own broken sources. Jeremiah 2:4-13
Has God perhaps given me what I wanted, rather than what He wanted for me that would truly satisfy me? Psalm 81:1,10-16
Let brotherly love continue because Jesus continues, the same yesterday, today, and forever. This the sacrifice pleasing to Him. Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16
Jesus had something to say about manners at a wedding feast and at feeding the homeless. Luke 14:1,7-14 |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 28 August 2010 05:25 |
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