The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 12:1,
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed."
Paul clearly felt the need to inform his readers about the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts come from God and, as an apostle, he was urged by God to explain the workings of the Holy Spirit and how those workings play out in the lives of believers. What he said to the church in Corinth is just as applicable to us.
"I do not want you to be uninformed." For me, this is not just a "throw-away" verse. I find it vital and of utmost importance. Had Paul not written about these things, and all the things all the writers of Scripture wrote about, we would be in the dark on the many things of God, who and what he is like, what he does, what he expects of us, and, most importantly, how we can enter into his family.
Many of us make our claims about the Scriptures: that they are fully and verbally inspired by God, that they are infallible in the original autographs and that they, and they alone, are the final authority for all faith and practice (since they originate from God himself). One aspect of Scripture, assumed, but not mentioned often, is the intentionality of the Scriptures. Intentional in two senses: God, in his wisdom intended they be written for us, and God, in his expectations of us, intends we know them and live our lives accordingly.
Here are some passages to consider in regard to the intentionality of the Scriptures:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." 1 Corinthians 10:11.
"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21.
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4.
So many, many passages speak to the intentionality of the Scriptures! How incumbent upon me to read, study, memorize, and to ruminate in them!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed."
Paul clearly felt the need to inform his readers about the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts come from God and, as an apostle, he was urged by God to explain the workings of the Holy Spirit and how those workings play out in the lives of believers. What he said to the church in Corinth is just as applicable to us.
"I do not want you to be uninformed." For me, this is not just a "throw-away" verse. I find it vital and of utmost importance. Had Paul not written about these things, and all the things all the writers of Scripture wrote about, we would be in the dark on the many things of God, who and what he is like, what he does, what he expects of us, and, most importantly, how we can enter into his family.
Many of us make our claims about the Scriptures: that they are fully and verbally inspired by God, that they are infallible in the original autographs and that they, and they alone, are the final authority for all faith and practice (since they originate from God himself). One aspect of Scripture, assumed, but not mentioned often, is the intentionality of the Scriptures. Intentional in two senses: God, in his wisdom intended they be written for us, and God, in his expectations of us, intends we know them and live our lives accordingly.
Here are some passages to consider in regard to the intentionality of the Scriptures:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." 1 Corinthians 10:11.
"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21.
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4.
So many, many passages speak to the intentionality of the Scriptures! How incumbent upon me to read, study, memorize, and to ruminate in them!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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