For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Cor. 16
Paul summed up most of what He said to the Corinthians in this letter in 1 Corinthians 16:13. “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” It’s good advice. For me, when I read these words, this is what I hear:
- “Be on your guard” – Live intentionally, constantly seeking God and examining your heart.
- “Stand firm in the faith” – Abide in Christ so you will know the truth and not be swayed by lies.
- “Be courageous” – Don’t run from opposition or struggle, but fear God alone.
- “Be strong” – Live in the Spirit, not in the flesh.
- “Do everything in love” – Serve God, not self, living in obedience to Him.
There is a lot of depth in each one of those simple statements. But it boils down to doing what we are doing here – taking in God’s truth so that it can produce its fruit in us. When we keep God at the forefront of our minds and the center of our hearts, it impacts everything we think, say, and do. It changes who we are. For the better.
Judges 11-12
Wow – those Ephraimites were a proud lot! They responded to Jephthah the same way they responded to Gideon back in Judges 8. “They said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.’” (Jud. 12:1b). Seriously?!? I’s obvious they weren’t concerned with helping. You don’t burn down somebody’s house because they didn’t let you help them. So they must have been after the glory and perhaps the spoil. Pride!!
What’s interesting to me, though, is the contrast in how Gideon and Jephthah responded to the Ephraimites. Gideon responded with humility. He lifted them up by saying, “What have I accomplished compared to you?” (Jud. 8:2a). Thus, their resentment subsided and that was the end of it. Jephthah, on the other hand, defended his actions and called the Ephraimites out for their failure. While he was no doubt justified in this response, it didn’t benefit anybody. It led to brother fighting against brother and a whole lot of death.
Jephthah would have done well to understand what we have been reading from Paul in 1 Corinthians. Had he been willing to set his own rights aside as Paul both advocated and practiced, things might have turned out differently. As Paul said, “Why not rather be wronged?” (1 Cor. 6:7b). Jephthah could have done as Gideon did. Gideon swallowed his own pride and took the hit to avoid a fight with his fellow Jews. And all of this demonstrated what it says in Proverbs 15:1. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Isn’t it cool how the whole Bible works together as one cohesive message?