Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
How many times do we have to endure well-meaning spiritually awakened people telling us that knowledge doesn’t count for anything, but that what we really need are spiritual gifts? Granted, “knowledge puffs up” and we are told to “desire spiritual gifts.” Yet in 1 Corinthians 1:5-7, we see that the Christians in Corinth have been built up in speech and knowledge, having the testimony of Christ confirmed, which leaves them with all the spiritual gifts they need.
Knowledge is integral to our walk as Christians. Underestimating the value of careful study and growth in knowledge leads us to walk in ignorance, throwing caution to the wind, and being constantly surprised and disappointed by the fact that we live in a sin-cursed world where there’s plenty of hardship to go around.
If Jesus saved me, why am I still _________? (ugly, stupid, sick, addicted, poor, you name it.)
Learning carefully from Scripture is indispensable. It provides us with spiritual insight that we need. And as we grow in knowledge, as we learn more and more about the Christian life, about the way God views us and the world, and the riches of God’s mercy in Christ, the more we are able to rejoice in God’s provision for us. We grow in our ability to cope with hardship. We grow in our understanding how to pray for ourselves and for others. We grow in our desire to love our neighbor as Christ has loved us. We learn the meaning of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control, and we see that they grow naturally from our connection with the Lord.
Do we want to have the Spiritual gifts we need? Let’s study Scripture and learn the depth, height, and breadth of God’s love for us.
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