For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Cor. 1
What was the first problem in the Corinthian church that Paul addressed, and what was his solution? We humans want to be somebody. If we can’t be somebody, we want to know somebody who is somebody. Consider the latest trend of “influencers” on social media. People wrap their worth up in “likes” and “followers”. There is nothing new in this except for the conduit of social media. The Corinthian believers were also flocking to their favorite “influencer” and then arguing over who had the winning team.
Paul reminded them that the only winning team was the team of losers flocked around Jesus. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Cor. 1:27-29). He also reminded them that we bring nothing to the table. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Cor. 1:25).
So how do we keep human pride from dividing Christ’s body of believers? First, we remember that it is Christ’s Church and we follow only Him. Second, we don’t work to get people to follow us. Instead, we point them to Jesus and stay out of their way.
Josh. 5-6
It looks like Joshua took God’s exhortation for him to “be strong and courageous” seriously! I don’t know about you, but if I “looked up and saw a man standing in front of [me] with a drawn sward in his hand” (Josh. 5:13a), my first reaction would not be to walk straight up to the man and start asking questions! But that is exactly what Joshua did, understandably wanting to know if the man was friend or foe.
I like what the Bible Project video said about the man’s response. By saying that he was for neither side, he put the ball back in Joshua’s court. Remember – God is the standard. He doesn’t pick sides. The question isn’t if He is for or against us but, rather, are we for or against Him. God is holy and righteous. He is perfect and all that is good. He does not change Himself to be with man, but thank God He made a way to change us so that we could be with Him.
Ps. 41
How do you show “regard for the weak?” How does God bless that? We just read in 1 Corinthians how we humans tend to focus on power and wisdom and things we believe put us “on top”. Besides striving for these things ourselves, we are drawn to those we think have them. Psalm 41 contrasts this behavior by saying, “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;” (Ps. 41:1a). The weak are not there for us to trample on or use as a ladder on our way to the top. Instead of taking advantage of them, thus serving ourselves, we should lift them up, thus serving God through them. When we humble ourselves and embrace our vulnerability, then “the LORD delivers [us] in times of trouble.” (Ps. 41:1b). Unlike my own efforts, God’s deliverance never fails.