November 22, 2021 -- I Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Childishness or childlikeness

People loved by the Father, by the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:11-13 ESV

While traveling for the last 10 days or so I’ve been reading Neil Postman’s “The End of Education”. Yes, the author intentionally used this ambiguity—is education at an end or alternatively what is the end or the goal of education? Postman offers the axiomatic insight that it is not just experts who may speak to issues and topics; it is important to have that insight in mind as much later in his book he notes that teachers must expose human error: “everyone makes errors, including those who write about error. None of us is ever free of it, and we are most seriously endangered when we think we are. That there is an almost infinite supply of error, including our own…” (page 121).

Consider the world we live in now. The powers that be are constantly touting the theme of climate change. It is hammered away at in nature programs and profoundly alters the way politicians form their budgets. Our passage today reminds us: we know in part.

Consider the LGBTQ? narrative. How often do you read of those who have been advised and counseled who later regret the information they received, but find they cannot receive counsel or help to leave the LGBTQ? narrative? How often do Christians misconstrue the word of God and speak as if their own fallen nature has not affected their sexuality and expressions of it? Our passage today reminds us: we know in part.

Consider the lack of nuance in the whole Covid debate. If you believe this or that then you must be a denier or a government groupie. Our passage today reminds us: we know in part.

Everyone makes errors. The fact that all people have sinned, do sin and are going to sin (Romans 3:23) is written large in the pages of our lives. Such infinite supply of error should teach all of us to be far more loving towards one another as we seek to grow in our faith in Jesus Christ. Christians, speak to this culture. Expose error, and be humbly prepared to have your own errors exposed. Do not let that stop you, instead, allow such encounters to help you grow in grace.

Faithful Father, I confess I am a child in so many ways. I am childish in my understanding of so many things. I am childish in my reasoning. I am childishly petulant in my interactions with others—confidently believing my points to be unassailable as I am pointing out the errors of others while at the very same time oblivious to my own tenuous position and unreasonableness. Faithful Father, thank You for the reconciling work of Jesus Christ, in Him, I am Your child. Jesus, thank You for the gift of the Spirit, through Whom I am convinced of my deep-rooted errors and sins and by Whom I am drawn to new humility and growth in child-like awe. Triune God, sanctify me, so that my life and words will serve as an irresistible beacon of hope to all whom You have placed in my life. Amen.

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