In high school, I was a writer and editor for our school newspaper (I know--shocker, right?). For one story assignment around Valentine's Day, I interviewed married teachers and staff members about their spouses, how they met, fell in love and all that mushy gushy stuff. I don't remember most of the stories. But I do remember one.
"What do you love most about your husband?" I asked an administrator.
She paused. Then she replied simply, "He knows me best and loves me most."
It's been over 10 years and I never forgot that. I don't why exactly. Maybe it's because I'm still looking for that guy, for that kind of love. Perhaps it's because I still need to be that kind of person--to have the ability to love someone that way.
"He knows me best and loves me most," is a pretty powerful statement when you think about it. I can barely imagine a guy who knows me better than anyone--seeing me in the morning before Frizz-Ease and Bouncy Cream tame my hair and Starbucks makes me...conscious. To think that same guy could see me at those moments and when I'm sick, moody, or selfish...and still love me--still choose me--above anybody else?!? That pretty much proves love is a miracle. :)
The amazing thing is that God's love is even beyond that. Even when I marry that guy, he won't be able to read every one of my thoughts, motives, and attitudes (and that's probably a good thing for both of us!)...but God does...and still loves me more than any one person ever could. Here's what the Word said in today's passage:
For who do you know
that really knows you,
knows your heart?
And even if they did,
is there anything they would discover
in you
that you could take credit for?
Isn't everything you have
and everything you are
sheer gifts from God?
So what's the point of all this comparing and competing?
You already have all you need.
You already have more access to God than you can handle.
All right, so the part of this I didn't address earlier is the fact that you and I can't take all the credit for the good stuff that's in us. I didn't make my eyes, voice or mind--so I can't take full credit for anything good that comes from them. I've been given everything I have and everything I am--that doesn't mean that I should walk around with an arrogant attitude like "God's given the world the gift of Me! Muah ha ha!" (In the words of Whitney Houston, "Hell to the no!!!") :)
In this passage, I believe Paul's encouraging people to be confident...but at the same time, humble, thankful for what God has done and more importantly, for who God is. He knows our hearts inside and out...let's just try to get a glimpse of His.
Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 5-8
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