Daily Bread 6-28-17
1 Corinthians 13:11,12
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
ref. - 2Co 3:18 - But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Ph 3:12 - Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also am I apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Have you ever looked back on your life and said, "I can't believe I did that, what a foolish thing to do"? Hindsight is a wonderful thing to prove to us that we should have listened in the first place. But when we were younger our understanding was not matured. Our thinking was not matured, and we definitely did not have grace in our speech. We did things, said things, and misunderstood things because of our immaturity. We were just learning and mistakes were made along the way. But the good thing is that we can look back and recognize our mistakes and try to warn others not to travel down the same path. This isn't about the murderer or the thief, although it includes them, it is about the backbiter, the disobedient, the hateful, the prideful, the scorner, the lustful, etc. All those qualities that we are told are not fruit that is given by God but taught by the world. The Apostle Paul even admitted that he had not attained perfection, but that he was learning and improving around every corner. He could look back and see, "That's why I shouldn't have done it this way," or "Now I realize why I shouldn't speak that way or think that way." We all start as babies when it comes to serving God in Jesus Christ. That is why it is hard for God's chosen, the Jews, to start from scratch and change their ways. They already think that they know the way, but they are looking through blinded eyes. Our goal today is not to allow anyone to reach the point where their eyes have been blinded, and if they have, let them realize that Jesus can give back their sight. Just as the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus was blinded and then given back his sight when he received his calling in Jesus Christ. Christ had taught Paul many things over the years. Some through failure and some through success, but Paul's main goal was to help others not to make the same mistakes he had made and to show the people how to serve God in a pure heart through Jesus Christ. Always seeking for more understanding and growing into Spiritual adults. He was encouraging others, not giving excuse for his mistakes, but acknowledging them and teaching the people that this is why we do not go this way. He even went so far as to say in Romans 7:24, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." He knew he had made mistakes, but he made them right with the Lord and used them to help others to travel a better path. It is time for we, as people of God, to get past our failures and find the path that leads to better understanding, clearer vision, and better speech toward God and our fellow man. It is time to be apprehended of Christ instead of thinking that we have apprehended him. It is time to realize that every experience that we face can draw us closer to Christ. Whether we learn by failure or success, we must stay true to God and continue to realize that we are bound in marriage to Jesus Christ. He will bless us, he will correct us, he will even whip us at times, but he will love us at all times and our outcome will be heavenly!! Don't stay put in blurred vision, call on him to make your vision clear so that you can actually see what a great person he has called you to be!! Thank God for Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever!!! Have a great day!!!