If Anyone Supposes That He Knows Anything

I have a friend (who has a few decades on me in this whole walking with Jesus thing) who often says that the Christian life is nothing more than a continual reducing down until what is left is Christ. I'm not sure I fully understood what he meant when I first heard him say this years ago. But as the years go by, more and more I feel like I know less and less. This is a tad disconcerting as when I was younger I thought I knew quite a bit and that I would just keep adding to this great knowledge throughout my life. Then comes 1 Corinthians 8:2 to knock me off my high horse:

“If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”

As I write this, I realize I have no place to speak on this subject. I still struggle often with feeling like I know more than others. But I will simply share the little bit of light I have been given on this subject and pray the Lord does with it what He wants.

I have been thinking about my future lately, and I was praying recently, “Father, just show me what to be taking steps toward, and I will do it.” And though that prayer was not wrong, what the Lord showed me was that I am His sheep. And His sheep don't have to know what they are moving toward. They just have to stay close to Him, and He will lead them. Think about it. Can you picture a shepherd calling out to his sheep, “Head in that direction, I'll catch up!” No, he leads them. He says, “Follow me. I'm taking you the safest way to the best pastures.” Again I think I need to know something when all I need to know is God.

“but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.” -1 Corinthians 8:3

Somehow this simple statement is the answer. If you think you know anything, you know nothing, but if you love God, He knows you and suddenly you don't need to know anything else. And so continues the process of reducing us to Christ. Praise God! Let us seek to love Him and know Him in all that we do.

The following is my attempt at a Spanish translation.

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Tengo un amigo (quien ha estado caminando con Jesús mucho más tiempo que yo) quien muchas veces dice que la vida Cristiana es nada más que un reducción hasta que nada está quedado excepto Cristo. No entendí bien hace muchos años, pero ahora siento como yo sé menos y menos. Cuando era menor, pensaba que sabía mucho y iba saber más y más cada año. 1 Corintios 8:2 dice:

“Si alguno cree que sabe algo, no ha aprendido todavía como lo debe saber.”

Todavía este no es facil para mí. Muchas veces todavía creo que yo sé más que otras personas. Pero voy a compartir lo que Dios me ha revelado, sino que es poco.

He estado pensando en mi futuro recién, y oré, “Padre me muestra donde debo caminar y lo haré.” Este oración no es equivocado, pero el Señor me mostró que yo soy su oveja. Sus ovejas no tienen que saber a donde van. Ellas solo tienen que quedar cerca del Pastor y Él va a conducirles. Pastores no dicen a sus ovejas, “Vayan allá! Nos vemos pronto!” El pastor les conduce sus ovejas. Él dice, “Me sigan. Voy a mostrarte el camino más seguro a los pastos mejores.” De nuevo creo que necesito saber algo cuando solo necesito saber Dios.

“pero si alguno ama a Dios, ése es conocido por El.” - 1 Corintios 8:3

Este declaración sencillo es el solución. Si crees que sabes algo, sabes nada, pero si amas a Dios, El te conoces y de repente no tienes que saber nada más. Gracias a Dios! Buscamos a amar y conocer a Dios en todo que hacemos.

Secrets of the Secret Place

I recently started rereading Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge. I am loving it all over again, and I would highly recommend this book about the treasures to be found in spending time alone with God.

I want to share a little about my routine in hopes that it might help someone who, like me, struggles to give daily time to spending time with the Lord. I have always kept my Bible at the breakfast table with me, and I would read a little as I eat breakfast and drink my coffee. But I felt that something was lacking in this routine, so I am starting to reorganize and find a new way.

For me, one of the most difficult things about making the time to be with the Lord in the morning is getting up in time. So in the past week I have had to start forcing myself to go to bed by 11 every single night so I can get up by 7:30. I get up, forcing myself to skip the snooze, and start my coffee (an essential step, of course 😊). I read a short chapter from the Secrets of the Secret Place while I eat breakfast and drink coffee, giving myself enough time to wake up. Then I go in my bedroom and close the door (leaving my phone in the other room), giving myself at least 30 minutes to be alone with the Lord.

I share this not for a pat on the back, but because this is important. We are often told that our Christian life is not about a checklist. Well, guess what? This week I made a checklist (horror of horrors!). I am working to implement healthy habits in my life. Habits that are conducive to a healthy relationship with my Lord. This Christian life is absolutely about relationship with God (it's also about relationship with His body, and I have little doubt that I would not be writing this if weren't for the faithful prayers of His church, but that is another post), and I encourage you to do whatever it takes to pursue a daily relationship with our Lord. He is worth it!

Two sweet friends

So, I know that most of you reading this know Rachel and Madelyn, but for those who haven't had that pleasure I will give you a little introduction.

Rachel and I have been close friends since freshman year when we were matched as "random roommates." We lived together for seven and a half years altogether. She has been a constant in my life, always loving me, always praying for me, always hoping for the best for me even when I had given up hope. In the past year and a half of living apart, we have only become closer, enjoying each other's company, encouraging one another, and serving others together.

Madelyn and I met in college, and she has become such a great friend. She is the friend whose house I went to when I had to get away, the friend I called when I thought things would never get better. And somehow things always seemed better after I talked to her. Though typically not short on words, she was quick to listen and slow to respond, never wanting to give a pat answer.

I have asked Rachel and Maddie to visit me here in Chile, and they are excited to come! The plan is for them to come for the week of my birthday in June. I would like to ask anyone who would like to, to help out with their plane tickets. It will cost around $2500 for both of them. Know that you will be blessing me immeasurably and giving me the best birthday present ever!

Please send donations to Rachel or Madelyn. If you need their address, send me a personal message, and I can give it to you. Thank you so so much!

PS: I can't really talk about my closest friends without mentioning my sweet friend Jesse, but she had to go and start a family :). And traveling with an infant is not so easy. But I still pray that one day she and her family will be able to visit.

My new home

Guess what? I have my own little home here! I have been here for a little over a week, and I love it!

My cute little kitchen!

And, of course, coffee!

Isn't it cute? Now that I have my place, I am becoming more independent. I walk to my American friends', Lee and Dori's, house each day. Yesterday I ventured out to the mall on my own. I was quite nervous, but I got some supplies for decorating my place and things to make cookies, so overall it was a success.

This morning I was reading in proverbs, and it made me think of my language learning in this season.

"Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." Proverbs 10:4

Because I spend most of my time with Americans speaking English and I live on my own, I have to be especially diligent. I pray that God gives me the grace to continue to study and practice diligently. I have some sweet sisters here who are happy to practice with me and encourage me to speak and not be embarrassed. So, I am grateful.

Overall, I am encouraged. Things are going well. Thank you all for praying for me! 

Resolutions

Often when we make new year's resolutions they are efforts born out of our own strength. For years my new year's resolution has been to pray more. I set measurable goals, make lists, and determine that I will stick with it this year. But I always end up feeling exhausted and frustrated.

This year instead of determining to pray more, I committed to ask the Lord each day for one month to give me the heart of an intercessor. I asked and expected the Lord to birth this trait I have long wanted in me. And I am grateful that in the past few weeks praying for others has come more naturally.

I would encourage you to do the same (don't wait for new year's!). Take a certain amount of time to ask the Lord to produce the trait you desire (whether it be humility, kindness, self-discipline, or whatever). Because our flesh can produce no good thing, and we desire for the Holy Spirit to bear His fruit in our lives. And He gives to those who ask Him.

A new adventure

I am headed out on a new adventure on Thursday. I am so blessed by the Lord who knows my heart and my desires and actually cares, by the Lord who orchestrates things perfectly according to His plan.

Three years ago, I felt that it was time to start my life of living in a Spanish speaking country, and I brought this to my sweet church family. The consensus was that I needed to wait and become more grounded. I'm not going to lie and say I took that well. I felt as though my dreams were crushed, and I believed God didn't care about me or speak to me. Following this were the two most difficult years of my life. And by God's grace, I was in a safe, loving place, surrounded by friends who truly cared about me and never gave up on me even in the thick of depression when it seemed like it would never get better. Even when I believed none of them cared about me despite everything they had done to show that they did.

Not long after I was asked to wait, a sister in the Lord encouraged me to ask the Lord for a country. I felt quite sure as I asked the Lord that He was speaking "Chile." Which I thought was odd because I knew nothing about Chile. But I just sat on it and waited.

Then this past summer I began feeling that it was time. And as I brought it to the church this time, several sisters confirmed that it was time. And one sister had the thought to contact some friends she had that she thought were in Argentina. When she contacted them, it turned out that they were actually in Chile. Which was a sweet confirmation, and I began emailing with this family and I visited them in October. And now, in two days I will be getting on a plane to join them in Chile.

I just wanted to share this because God's timing really is perfect. It often feels wrong at the time, like He has forgotten us. But I assure you He cares. He delights to give us the desires of our hearts. 

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her

Ephesians 5:22-33 is a somewhat controversial passage of scripture on marriage.  While I believe there is much benefit from exploring the implications of this passage on marriage, I think what Paul has to say about Christ and the church is often lost in the shuffle.  That is what I would like to focus on here:

Christ is the head of the church.

He is the Savior of the body.

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.

That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless.

Christ nourishes and cherishes the church because we are members of His body.

Why did Christ give Himself up for the church?  So that He might sanctify her, to present her to Himself having no spot or wrinkle, that she would be holy and blameless. 

Notice that Paul does not say that Christ died for the church so that she can go to heaven, so that she can be happy or live a good life. 

It's all about Jesus.  He is looking for something.  Something He died for.  He is looking for a bride to present to Himself in all her glory.  A counterpart compatible for Him.  But this counterpart must not have so much as a spot or wrinkle. 

Am I saying you need to go on a sin hunt?  To personally eradicate the spots and wrinkles in your own or others' lives?  No, I am saying Jesus already died to eradicate those spots and wrinkles.  We must subject ourselves to Him. 

He has cleansed us, and He continues to cleanse us.  And He nourishes and cherishes us.  He is all we need.

This is really only scratching the surface, but perhaps it is what we can handle for now.  Paul writes this passage not about individual believers but about the church.  There is much more to being the church than individual holiness, but that is a post for another time.