Thereas a kind of wisdom known as astreet smarts.a It is the wisdom of the street child who is deprived of home and family and learns how to survive in a vicious, hostile environment without love and by his wits. In his netherworld, he prospers.
Then thereas the wisdom of the philosophy major in an elite college. He studies the discussions of Socrates, learns the findings of Plato, and becomes acquainted with cla.s.sical thought and its application to the modern world. The street child, smart beyond imagination in his concrete jungle, would be as lost in the cla.s.sroom as the student would be in the citiesa ghettos. They both have acc.u.mulated wisdom, but each has a wisdom irrelevant to the otheras world.
When Paul preached the gospel in Corinth, he was well-acquainted with the wisdom of the cla.s.sical philosophers, but he avoided using their language and he chose not to use their arguments. He did this for a very good reason. He was speaking of a wisdom that was as foreign to the Greeks of Corinth as the awisdoma of the street child and the philosophy major are foreign to each other. Paul was not speaking unwisely. On the contrary, he said, aI do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world, and not the kind that appeals to the rulers of this world, who are being brought to nothinga (1 Cor. 2:6). Instead, aThe wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of G.o.da (2:7).
The great Greek philosophers who had used their considerable intellectual abilities to ponder the great themes of human existence had, at best, been able only to speculate on answers. They had tried to unlock athe secret wisdom of G.o.d,a which only G.o.d could unlock. These speculations caused ma.s.sive problems to the cla.s.sical thinkers. The secret wisdom of G.o.d centered around Jesus dying on a cross for the sins of the world. This concept was so appalling to the Greek Corinthians that many of them rejected it as nonsense. Their problem was that they were relying solely on human rationality and ignoring the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit. But, as Paul said, aOnly those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit meansa (2:14). And only those who have G.o.das Spirit can understand what G.o.d in his wisdom is saying.
Street smarts donat work in the Ivy League, and cla.s.sical thought is useless on the streets of the ghetto. But the secret wisdom of G.o.d is relevant in both places, and it change lives wherever and whenever it is embraced.
July 20
TO READ: Galatians 5:16-25
Living a New Life
So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you wonat be doing what your sinful nature craves. . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the pa.s.sions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Galatians 5:16, 24
When a man gets married, he embarks on a new life. Later, when he retires, he starts another new life. Should he eventually lose his wife, he begins all over again. Life is all about changes, challenges, and choices.
The more drastic changes in life, such as marriage, retirement, or bereavement call for far-reaching adjustments. But none is so far-reaching as the change that takes place when a man commits his life to Christ. Paul describes this as anew life in the Holy Spirita and calls the believer to live accordingly (Gal. 5:16). The fundamental difference in such a new life is described as no longer adoing what your sinful nature craves,a but living now by the Holy Spirit (5:16). This involves following athe Holy Spiritas leading in every part of our livesa (5:25). Two options are clearly presenteda"either following a asinful nature [that] loves to do evila (5:17), or living in such a way that athe Holy Spirit controls our livesa (5:22).
New believers are often surprised to discover, after the initial joy of committing their lives to Christ has worn down a little, that they struggle to live a new life. They expected that everything would be fresh, new, and wonderful and that they would somehow be transported into a new kind of stratospheric spiritualitya"free from pain, struggle, worry, or defeat. They need to learn that even though they are now in Christ, the atwo forcesaa"the sinful nature and the Holy Spirita"aare constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflicta (5:17).
This may seem to be rather discouraging information, but it needs to be seen that the believer is not impotent in the midst of this struggle. He has the freedom and the power to choose whether he will be dominated by the sinful nature or be led by the Spirit of G.o.d. In fact, he is required to make this choicea"or more accurately, a continual series of choices.
To choose to afollow the Holy Spiritas leadinga includes recognizing that in saying yes to Christ, the believer said no to the sins for which Christ died. He has anailed the pa.s.sions and desires of [the] sinful naturea to the cross, and he continues to say no to them (5:24). At the same time, he says yes to the gracious working of the indwelling Holy Spirit. As he does this, he finds heas living a new lifea"a rich life, a full life, a life that honors G.o.d and blesses people.
July 21
TO READ: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18
A Letter from Christ
Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living G.o.d. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:3
Presidents of the United States, after their terms of office, often establish a presidential library where their correspondence is archived for posterity. For similar reasons, the letters of literary figures are often published posthumously, and the devotees of notable people will pay large amounts of money just to possess one of their letters.
It would be a waste of time speculating on the possible market value of one of Jesusa letters, because there are none in existence. That is, there are none written with ink on parchment.
However, Paul said of the Corinthian Christians, aClearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living G.o.d. It is carved not on stone, but on human heartsa (2 Cor. 3:3). This is an extraordinary statement! The reason Paul wrote it was that Paulas authenticity was being challenged in the Corinthian church. Some people, not believing that he was really an apostle, were demanding that he show his credentials. His response was that the changed lives of the Corinthians were his credentials. They themselves were evidence of G.o.das work through Paul in Corinthian hearts. He didnat need letters of commendation when the whole congregation was made up of living letters written by Christ himself!
To press home his point, Paul reminded his readers of what happened when G.o.d had carved a letter aof written laws . . . etched in stonea (3:6-7). Paul was referring, of course, to the law given to Moses. This law had served to condemn the people, because they had constantly broken it. But now G.o.d has established a anew covenanta through Christ. Instead of bringing condemnation and death, the new covenant amakes us right with G.o.da (3:9). It is the people who have been made right with G.o.d who are Christas letters that can be read by other people.
But what do other people read in these human letters? First, Paul notes, aSince this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bolda (3:12). Others see a confidence that is not arrogant self-confidence but joyful confidence in the promise of G.o.d, that G.o.d will accept all who come to him through his Son. Others also read about the freedom enjoyed by G.o.das peoplea"awherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedoma (3:17). This is not the freedom to do what people want, but the freedom to do what they ought. Most importantly, when others read these letters from Christ, they learn about Christ and gain a vision of hima"aas the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even morea (3:18).
These letters are not for archives, where they will gather dust. They are for public reading, where they will transform their readers. We who believe are letters from Christ that are signed, sealed, and delivered with love.
July 22
TO READ: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Fan the Flames
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift G.o.d gave you when I laid my hands on you. For G.o.d has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. . . . With the strength G.o.d gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News.
2 Timothy 1:6-8
Thereas a tendency among believers to place the heroes of the faith on pedestals that they, the heroes, would never have mounted. This is especially true of the heroes of the faith whose lives are recorded in the Bible. While we incline to think of these biblical heroes as always on top of their game, the Scriptures go to great lengths to show that, in actuality, they suffered from the same kinds of discouragement, disappointment, disillusionment, and dysfunction as we. The value of these men and women to us is not to be found in their exemption from the ills that trouble us, but rather in seeing the ways in which they handled them and lived well through them.
Take Timothy, for example. Timothy was a protg of the great apostle Paul, who spoke in the most affectionate terms about the young man. But that did not stop the apostle from identifying potential problems in Timothyas lifea"and speaking about them firmly and lovingly. So he wrote in his letter to Timothy, aI remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift G.o.d gave you when I laid my hands on youa (2 Tim. 1:6). Apparently, even Timothy was capable of allowing his divine calling and enabling to lapse into a smoldering rather than a blazing condition. Paul added, aG.o.d has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-disciplinea (1:7). Timothy lived in tough times, and Paul expected that they would get worse (and he was right!). So it was understandable if Timothy, like most normal people, experienced pangs of trepidation when he considered his calling and the environment in which he was to live it out. Perhaps Timothyas timidity was most obvious in his apparent reluctance to speak openly about Christ. So Paul reminded him, aYou must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lorda (1:8).
It is important to note that Paul was not simply giving Timothy a rah-rah pep talk. He also was reminding him of fundamental spiritual principles that Timothy needed to apply in order to live well in his natural difficulties. He was reminding Timothy of athe spiritual gift G.o.d gave [him],a of athe faith and love that [he had] in Christ Jesus,a and particularly of athe help of the Holy Spirit who lives within usa (1:13-14).
This biblical hero, Timothy, was not a hero because he was immune to fear and oblivious to danger. He was a hero because he suffered as normal men suffer and through the power of divine enabling in the Holy Spirit he was able ato hold ona and ultimately triumph. We all can do that.
July 23
TO READ: Psalm 33:1-22
Cosmonauts and Astronauts
Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
Psalm 33:8-9
In the early days of the s.p.a.ce race, much more was at stake than technological bragging rights. The USSR and the USA, with their competing and contradictory ideologies, were squaring off with each other in a great struggle for the hearts and minds of the human race. When the Soviet cosmonauts returned from their spell in s.p.a.ce, they dutifully reported that they had seen no sign of G.o.d and therefore had concluded that he was not there. But when a group of American astronauts circling the globe read portions of the Psalms extolling the wonders of creation and its Creator in the hearing of millions, a powerful statement was broadcast concerning G.o.das presence and power. It is impossible to say whether or not anybodyas views on the existence of G.o.d were changed by these opposing statements. The fact remains that, when some look into creation, they see the Creator, while others view the same data and see only creation.
The psalm writer was firmly in the camp of the astronauts, rather than that of the cosmonauts. He said, aLet everyone in the world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his commanda (Ps. 33:8-9).
The psalmist went even further. He did not believe in a Creator who, having created the world, went into retirement and left creation to its own devices. Instead, he said, aThe Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they doa (33:13-15). The thought of an actively observant Lord was precious to the psalmist. Even though the behavior of the human race is so often beyond comprehension, the Lord understands everything they do! Surely it is advisable for men to be acquainted, at least minimally, with what the Scriptures say about G.o.das perception of humanity. Men who are thus acquainted can take great comfort and find grounds for hope in G.o.das nearness and understanding.
Men can also take comfort in knowing G.o.das intentions for humanity. These intentions are hinted at by the psalm writer when he says, aThe Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing lovea (33:18). He intends to love them unfailingly, and to watch over them ceaselesslya"those who adepend on the Lord,a that is!
The Soviet cosmonauts saw nothing but a mechanical universe, while the astronauts saw a creation that mirrored its Creator. With whom would you rather fly?
July 24
TO READ: Numbers 16:1-15
Power Play
One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, involving 250 other prominent leaders, all members of the a.s.sembly. They went to Moses and Aaron and said, aYou have gone too far! Everyone in Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than anyone else among all these people of the LORD?a Numbers 16:1-3
Chuck Colson, the former White House aide, says, aPower, privilege, position, prestige, and partiesa"these are the perks of politics.a No doubt there are many men who enter politics with a deep desire to further the well-being of their society. But for others, it is the aperksa that woo them into political life. The opportunity to exercise power and to gain prestige brings its own rewards. Of course, those who hold the power do not relinquish it readily, and those who crave it donat always use the most benign methods to gain it. The results are often power playsa"and they can be ugly (the 2000 Presidential election being a case in point).
Korah is a fine example of power-play politics. Korah was a Levite who had special responsibilities and privileges. But this was not enough for him. He resented Mosesa authority, claiming that everybody was equal and, accordingly, Moses had no right to exercise leadership over anyone else. Korah said, aYou have gone too far! Everyone in Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than anyone else among all these people of the Lord?a (Num. 16:3). To reinforce his point, Korah aincited a rebellion against Moses, involving 250 . . . members of the a.s.semblya (16:2).
As is often the case in matters of contention, there was a germ of truth in what the disaffected were saying. The people of Israel had all been set apart by the Lord for himself, and the Lord was certainly with all of them. In that the contenders were perfectly correct.
But Korah and his friends were still the ones who had agone too fara (16:7). While they were all set apart for the Lord in one sense, there was another sense in which each one had his allotted place in the divine economy. But they were not willing to acknowledge thisa"they wanted to rise above their own allotted place and deny Moses his. Korah was a Levite; he was not a priest. Moses was the leader of Israel; he was not subservient to Korah and his 250 rebels. And it was the Lord who had determined these roles. As Moses pointed out to Korah & Company, aThe one you are really revolting against is the Lord!a (16:11). Korah and his collaborators were attempting a power play. In response, the Lord made Mosesa leadership abundantly clear. Unfortunately, not every power play is as quickly remedied.
Ultimate authority resides with the Lorda"he delegates as he chooses. So embrace what he grants you and avoid grasping for what isnat yours. Otherwise, you might be fighting G.o.d. And you could get burned!
July 25
TO READ: Numbers 16:16-50
Between the Living and the Dead
Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague indeed had already begun, but Aaron burned the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead until the plague was stopped.
Numbers 16:47-48
When President Reagan narrowly survived an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt on March 30, 1981, he was rushed to a Washington D.C. hospital, critically wounded. When his wife, Nancy, arrived, Reagan quipped, with rare humor, aHoney, I forgot to duck.a People who are fired upon at such short range usually donat get a chance to duck. In fact, they rarely manage to dodge a bullet at all. If they are fortunate enough to do so, they take extra care in the future.
The children of Israel dodged a major bullet, figuratively, when Korah and his rebel followers challenged the leadership of Moses and Aarona"or, more accurately, the Lordas leadership. When Moses and Aaron realized the depth of the Lordas anger against the people of Israel, they afell face down on the ground. aO, G.o.d, the G.o.d and source of all life,a they pleaded. aMust you be angry with all the people when only one man sins?a a (Num. 16:22). The Lord responded to their intercession by warning the people to steer clear of Korah and his fellow conspirators. When the earth opened up and swallowed them, the people adodged the bullet.a Amazingly, however, athe very next morning the whole community began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying, aYou two have killed the Lordas people!a a (16:41). Some people never learn! If Moses and Aaron at this point had thrown up their hands and resigned, it would have been perfectly understandable! They had been falsely accused of abusing their powers in the first place. They had responded by opening themselves up to public scrutiny in which they had been thoroughly vindicated. They had graciously intervened on behalf of the people and saved them from a terrible fate. And they had been instrumental in allowing the people to see that the Lord really was at work in their midst. In return, they were accused of killing the Lordas people!
But they did not quit. Instead, aMoses said to Aaron, aQuick, take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it and carry it quickly among the people to make atonement for thema a (16:46). With the plague already raging, Aaron astood between the living and the dead until the plague was stoppeda (16:48).
The leadership of Moses and Aaron was questioned by lesser men, but their behavior in the midst of disaster and their performance of a thankless task among unthankful people were exemplary. They literally stood between the living and the dead and didnat ducka"or even flinch! You donat criticize such leadershipa"you follow it.
July 26
TO READ: Numbers 17:1-13
G.o.d and Authority