Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10 (NRSV)
Within today's chapter, we have the famous saying from verse 13 where Paul states,
"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it."
This can be a wonderful way for us to re-imagine hardships that we are facing. Are we being attacked or are they challenges for us to overcome? I'm not a victim but rather I'm a voyager sailing the seas of life.
This works in a lot of ways but it may also cause some of us to balk a little.
What if a person dies in some tragic mishap? At this point, would we say that they failed their test?
The lack of sensitivity with adding insult to fatality should be enough to deter us from this.
So it is important that we remember that Paul's imagery is supposed to lift us in the faith. If it is not working for us, we need to give him the benefit of the doubt that he is trying to help and using a variety of images to do so.
We see this in Paul indicating that all should be done "for the glory of God."
How do we think about this today? Some people ask, "Why would God need any glory to begin with?"
It is a matter of seeing. If we see God as connecting all life and working good in the world, this is helpful to point out to others - especially those in despair. We would turn to God being a strength in time of trouble. The glory is present - we are not creating or inventing it but rather noticing it.
Like Paul, we are not seeking our own advantage but sharing salvation with the world.
Prayer for the day:
God of our mothers and fathers, we recognize that your faithfulness has continued through the generations. Our ancestors dealt with so many difficulties and hardships. Yet here we are. Help us to think about our very existence today as a tribute to your glory. And when we think that the going is getting too tough, let us breathe and consider how you walk beside us even now. We pray these things in Christ's holy name. Amen.
Photo by Shannan Muskopf via Flickr.com. Used under the Creative Commons license.
All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment