Thoughts on the Bible Readings (1 Kings 19, Jeremiah 45, 46, 1 Corinthians 4, 5) for Aug 24th.

In the first of Kings 19 we have Elijah, despite the wonderful victory over Baal worship, fleeing for his life from the enraged and vengeful Jezebel. The prophet sought refuge at Sinai, the mount of Yahweh. However, unlike Moses who made intercession for God's people, he went there asking his Sovereign to destroy Israel: see Romans 11 verses 2-5. God through a succession of manifestations of His power humbles Elijah to understand  that his perception of God was entirely mistaken. Our Omnipotent Creator is a Saviour, rather than a destroyer. It is likely that the cave from which Yahweh revealed Himself to the prophet was the very place where our gracious Sovereign revealed His name and character to Moses: read Exodus 33 verses 17-34 and 7 and contemplate the wonder of the Almighty's character. The chapter concludes with Elijah being commissioned by the LORD to appoint 3 men - Hazael as king of Syria; Jehu as king over Israel; and Elisha to replace himself. Elisha's call is recorded in verses 19-21 and that prophet Elisha, having put his hand to the work, never looked back: see Luke 9 verses 61-62. Will we prove ourselves to be disciples who will follow our Lord Jesus Christ whatever the cost. 

Jeremiah 45 explains how God promises Baruch, the faithful scribe, that he would be preserved from the imminent doom. Chapter 46 describes the extensive disaster coming on Egypt, including the disobedient remnants of Judah. The chapter also includes a remarkable promise to the faithful remnant in Egypt who still clung to the Lord God and continued to hope in Him. Pause and read aloud verses 27-28 and ponder the steadfast love of the Almighty. 

The letters to the Corinthians are the most autobiographical of all Paul's letters. 1 Corinthians 4 deals with the ministry of the Apostles - particularly Paul himself. Verses 1-5 tell us that the Apostle Paul was being accused of being dishonest with the ecclesial funds. Paul declares his innocence. He declares that he is unaware of any fault in matters of money. Paul asks his readers not to judge him. The Apostle says that even in declaring himself innocent his ultimate vindication will come when the Lord Jesus Christ comes as judge and vindicator. Verses 6-7 declare that Paul has transferred the principles to himself and to Apollos. Verses 8-13 the Apostle ironically states that the Corinthians are behaving as if the kingdom has already come. If only that was true, says Paul, for then the Apostles would also be ruling. In contrast Paul declares that the Apostles were being treated as conquered soldiers being paraded as a spectacle before the victorious nation. The Apostles were to be Ill treated and slain as an offering to the gods of the victorious nation. In verses 10-13 Paul declares that no matter how the Apostles are treated they will glory in their Lord and behave as an example of suffering for Christ's sake. Slowly read those verses aloud and ponder what we should endure as witnesses to our Master in this age. Verses 14-20 explain that Paul desires to be a faithful father to the Corinthians and not simply an expositor. The believers in Corinth didn't lack teachers, but fathers were few. Remember that the problem the Corinthians had was fractionally lining up behind prominent personalities. The Apostle hopes that his appeal will persuade his readers and that he will not have to come to them for the disciplining of them. Meditate carefully on verse 20 and reflect whether your life has a pronounced focus on the kingdom of God. Or whether we live lives of luxury as though the kingdom is not a reality! Paul tells them in chapter 5 that in their midst was a case of shameless incest. That case was so bad it that non believers who were living in a depraved and promiscuous Corinthian society would find it disturbing. The Apostle provides advice on dealing with the problem. The faithful must dissociate themselves from the sinful brother in order that his separation from the ecclesia might cause him to reflect on the error of his ways and to repent and once again seek for forgiveness and fellowship with the family of God. Paul says that the response within the ecclesia is wrong and rather than deal with the situation that the believers had chosen a path of indifference. The effect of such tolerance is like a leavening influence that would soon permeate the entire ecclesia. When the problem is properly handled the believers will be able to partake of the love feast of bread and wine representing Christ's offering - he being the Passover lamb - as they need to, ie in sincerity and truth. In verses 9-13tells the Apostle says that his demand to remove wickedness from the ecclesia is specific to the situation with the Corinthian body of believers. Non association with evil people would mean entirely removing ourselves from the world, ie becoming hermits. This would be a failure on the part of believers to be light bearers to the world. However we must live holy lives as a witness to whom we have believed and followed, ie our Lord Jesus Christ: Ephesians 5 verses 1-18. Carefully consider these words and live our lives in conformity with the Christ.

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