Genesis 42:29-38
Psalms 70, 71, 74
1 Corinthians 6:12-30
Mark 4:21-34
I enjoy reading several verses from different chapters together. When read together, they seem to reinforce each other. Today, the theme that weaves through these verses is freedom to choose.
The Genesis reading begins with a favorite story of Joseph and his brothers. This is the part of the story where the brothers will find out their long “lost” brother is now in a position of power, not slavery because they chose to sell him into slavery. In Psalms 71, the writer chooses to praise God even though his life has had troubles. To paraphrase, he chooses to have faith, and he will be restored. Corinthians gets right to the point - “I have the right to do anything…but not everything is beneficial.”
Gracefully God gives us this power to choose, and it can be gift or a grenade. We can choose to honor God, and be in a relationship (the ultimate friend or loved family member) with Him. Or not.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (Found in 1 Corinthians 6)
I know I am only beginning to scratch the surface of understanding God’s gift; I may be trying to choose what is best but is that enough? In the final reading in Mark, I take great comfort to listen more:
“Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. (Mark 4:24-25 New Living Translation)
This Lent, instead of giving up something, be encouraged and choose to listen and pray to understand.
There are those who know they know. There are those who know they do not know. There are those who do not know that they do not know. Now, which one of these are you?
-Forward Day-by-Day, February 10, 2012
Eleanor Sheldon