The Explosive Combinations

Comparisons vs. Combinations

Comparisons happen all the time. Sometimes I think we are unconciously raised to compare ourselves to everyone around us. Everything is a challenge that must be won.
It's impossible to be truly good friends with someone, however, if you are constantly jealous of them or trying to outdo them. It is also hard to be friends if you think only your way is the right way and everything they do is ridiculous. As we shall see, not everyone has the same gifts given to them by God. This means not everyone will have the same calling or go about things the same way you do.

I have been thinking about 1st Corinthians. The book speaks about fellowship in the body of Christ a lot!
How do we get along with one another if we are constantly comparing ourselves to each other?
Paul says "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." (12:29-31)
   If our own individual gifts are not what matter the most, what does? What is the more excellent way?
  When I was younger, I memorized the next verses. I memorized them thinking that the passage describing love was about "being in love." If I wanted to have a good marriage, I needed to be kind, suffer long, not behave rudely to my husband, etc. I think you do need those things for a good marriage, but I now realize that Paul was talking to the entire church of Corinth. He was telling friends (and maybe people who don't get along so well) to suffer long in love for each other. To bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. Not to endure things for the sake of being in love, like Romeo and Juliet, but to proclaim what love really is. Love is not seeking its own, but is being transformed by Christ's love to serve others.
    If I am going to love His body, I am going to have to swallow my pride and admit my way is not the standard for all living: His way is. You can assume all you want about people, and talk about it behind their backs, but when you actually talk to them about it, you may realize they are trying to serve Him the only way they know how. And isn't that a blessing to the Church? Afterall, we are to desire the good gifts, which means desiring people to have gifts that are different than yours, but not any less inferior. So thank God for our differences. For not only would this Earth be an incredibly boring place if we were all the same, but it is through our combined strengths that we shall rebuild this world.

Random Motivating Thoughts

I've been thinking lately, which is typically a good thing.
My Pastor always says that everyone goes through a time of discouragement and darkness in their lives.
For myself, I know I get discouraged or frustrated at God sometimes. I wonder why things are happening the way they do. David seemed to do this a lot in the Psalms. "How long, oh Lord...."
   Even though I get down sometimes, I was born and taught to be a very optimistic person. I can't stay in the depths for long. My biggest enemy is passiveness. Sometimes I just don't want to do anything. Once I begin something for someone else I try to do it with my best abilities. If I'm doing something for someone else I take it very seriously. Why then, do I have such a hard time doing things for myself? Especially finishing things.  I believe it is my mindset that is the problem.
   I am not doing all these little things for myself. I am doing them for Christ and through the Spirit.
God is the one who I do it for, and He is also the one who helps me succeed. He has empowered me to change the world for Him. Why should I get caught up in petty arguments in my head about who I am doing what for? Oh pride, how I loathe thee!