I'll just stay quiet

Have you ever been reading Scripture and it seems like something jumps off the page at you. Those are precious moments, likely when God is speaking directly to you. Thats been my morning. I'm currently in the first letter to the Corinthians and quite honestly, doing a general overview. Thats important because my focus has not been picking out simple verses but rather getting the bigger picture of the book, then I'll move on to the next.

Over the summer, 1 Corinthians 1-2 became such profound chapters in my life. Its easy for me to get defensive about being wise and such, but in reality, I'm not. Paul goes on and on about God using the weak and foolish, the least likely I suspect he would say.

Then chapter 3 goes into the power of God enabling growth, not man. Although we like to take credit, its not our credit to take. Its the foundation of our faith and thus, the means to living.

But its chapter 4 that pierced my heart. Let me set the scene.

The letter written to Corinth is written to a group of people largely consumed with materialism and immorality. Corinth played host to much but produced little that was noteworthy. Many contests were held there but they had no home town hero of philosophy etc. They were commoners. Although we like to think otherwise, thats us. Sure, we might come from a town who has produced someone great, we call it our claim to fame, but generally we are bunch of commoners still struggling with materialism and immorality (whether we admit it or not--we often just jump to sexual immorality, one that has stricken the world and our families, but not the only type of immorality) This book is written to us. Not much has changed, sadly.

Paul's words read "For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore go not go on passing judgement before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring the light to things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God"

How often do I think I'm completely right but yet am so quick to see the wrong in others. No one claims to be judgement, at least not when asked to tell about themselves. I'm judgement. I'm quick to agree for the sake of simplicity not because I agree and even quicker to start in on the 'bashing' because in some sick way it makes me look/feel better. I never take the time to think about the actual circumstance, the one I likely don't understand. We live in a "I'm always right" world. If we're wrong, its only by the means of 'you're right, but...'

Thats why this passage jumps out at me. It speaks to what I'm in the middle of. I feel surrounded by negativity and tear downs. But what good does it do for me, someone with quite a bit of wrong, to look for the wrong in others lives. Its a promise that Paul gives us about the Lord: 'who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts.' If thats true, which it is, then I'm just not needed for the sake of judgement. I don't need to make my nasty remarks and say what I say behind peoples backs. God already knows. Nor do I need to reveal to 'friends' what 'others' are up to. My sharing is a mask to the gossip thats judgement driven. How sick.

It would be foolish to vow not to be judgemental, its setting myself up to fail. But I can vow to remain silent. I want to be still in the noise of this messy world. When the voice of truth is needed I prayer that I speak up, but in the meantime, I'll just stay quiet.

Blessings