When I began writing Broken to Breathless, it was a means to express my gratitude for all God was doing for me at the time. Since then, it has become something of an outlet also. As I discover truths in my quiet time, on my walks, or as I just "do life", I share them with you: it provides a means of documenting them, celebrating them, and opening the floor for discussion, if you are so inclined. Today, I want to show you the breath, the life of God's word. You see, over the past several days a passage of Scripture has come to my attention in some pretty unexpected and unalike ways. So, first, the passage:
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-11
And, quickly, the varied contexts in which it was presented: a Bible study entitled "What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual?", a class aimed toward married couples, and a child's devotional. By all appearances, these three opportunities seem to have nothing in common but God's word. Perhaps that is the point.
At the Bible study, we examined the immaturity of divisions in the body of Christ. We serve communion at the rail. We serve communion in our seats. It seems crazy, but humans will human, and we allow these sorts of things to be a breeding ground for strife. Spiritual Christians reject immaturity. In the class we looked at the opposite side of the coin: the importance of maturity. The teacher gave the analogy of someone with twenty years of experience interviewing for a new position: they were turned down because the interviewer determined "it was one year of experience twenty times." In all those years, the person had not done what was necessary for growth in their career. Marriage is the union of two Christians --hopefully --moving toward maturity; but what happens in the interim can be difficult to navigate. Mercy is critical. Lastly, the devotional our son and I read examined the passage in terms of our efforts to share Christ with others: we are not held responsible for the outcome of our labor; our responsibility is to pray God's truths sink deeply into the hearts of those with whom we share them.
One passage, multiple applications, and all true. Psalm 119:105 says God's word is a lamp unto the feet of those who read and obey it; a light to their path. In all circumstances. In our personal growth, in our relationship with those in our home, and in our obedience to the Great Commission beyond our doors. The steadfast pursuit of maturity, with mercy, and always in prayer is the way we live our lives to the glory of God, and the living, multi-faceted word of God is our handbook. Thanks be to God!
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