Tag Archives: 1 Corinthians

in passages

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“Valery-sur-Somme” Artist: Degas

there are passages we traipse through
where lessons are learned
even in impossible darkness
interrupted by a lucid glimmer of hope.

a page is turned in a book of life
with trials passing by lying on my back
on green leas with you
and cloudless days with endless azure.

looking through a glass darkly
here i know change leads to clarity and
in clarity is the face of God where
I shall see myself as He has always seen me.
How romantic are words of Life
akin with warm spring sun
on my skin.

O love how you bind when
compassion holds sway
and harmonic measures with
melody flawless in times precious
Our hands are clasped in this.

The sound of a stream pouring
busily overs smooth rocks
emitting cool mist and a lullaby
of gentle sounds from which within
many voices can be deciphered
declaring all of cherished
voices and remembered songs.

I miss times of old
I hope to replay some of them
in reflective memory
and to dream of things to come.

tears of joy are the elixir
from tepid days in apathy
forgotten now in passages
to a new life now and forever.

(c) rick stassi

Judge not ourselves

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David Hayward

1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court.In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 1Corinthians 4:1-4 (NKJV)

Paul is accountable as a servant of God and a steward of His word. He is not higher than a servant but is great in his provided role through Jesus Christ to serve and know God.

Who truly knows the mysteries of the Lord?

“Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” Mark 4:11

Therefore, it is the apostles who know the mysteries of God because it is God who gives them this knowledge. Owners of this knowledge is not qualification to be master or followed as if higher than man. Paul is a man who is an Apostle. He is a servant and a steward.

He is accountable for his faithfulness for in his calling of wisdom and preaching, he must be faithful to the Lord who promises. It is a small thing that he is judged by man or even himself. For God is his judge. He may think himself in God’s favor, but his thoughts are not what saves him. It is the Lord who justifies.

Those who minister, see God’s work about them. They see an effect that they have verbally or prayerfully caused. But, by all means it is God who is in control. We acknowledge the Spirit will guide us to the ends but we also acknowledge the source is God. Credit for spiritual lifting, change ,and blessing is all from this:

God has highest grace and has cast it upon us. Jesus paid the highest price for our salvation.   Servants who are knowing  and seeking ministers, convey this message. The Apostles, convey His mystery.

So, in our minds we are joyful at God’s revealed release of burden, dispersing of joy, and grace-filled salvation. But, we credit and marvel always at the Author of Life. Our Lord. Breathe in His spirit and bask in His love. Praise Him for raising men to reveal God by appointment. Do not judge and do not especially judge yourself or elevate yourself. It is God who will. We seek and listen and our path is made certain and straight in Him. With love and prayer. Amen

Rick Stassi

December 24, 2011

….each and every step, God is here.

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10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 13 (NKJV)

We are promised by God that He will complete us, or perfect us, each and everyday until the return of Christ Jesus. (Phi 1:6)

All that we once knew, and all that we now know, will be completed in what we shall know. God’s imparting of wisdom upon us is for our season and what we learned one day may have a new application the next-in His plan. All of His wisdom is part of our perfecting process, it is in His perfect wisdom that what we learn is right for the season we are in.

We are not yet fully perfected therefore, we are partially completed. I suggest that when we are complete, the building blocks we encounter along our straight path will melt into one whole completion. For we were once children, both as Christians and as people. We grow from that which we are based upon. “He who started a good work…”, Paul writes to the Philippians. There was a beginning to our path and it is the foundation we grow from. The work started is the receiving of Jesus in our hearts. We mature in Christ and the wisdom of the season of our foundation becomes the wisdom of the season of our maturity. We look in the mirror and see the image of God clearer. He is successful in molding us as we remain pliable. And we will change.

Remember we learn to have faith and in our faith comes hope and trust. However, love is first and foremost and is above all things. Love is the greatest commandment.

So, we look in the mirror and see the dimly visible image of our progress and the understanding of who God is. He is telling us who He is and it is maturing us in our Christian pilgrimage. Breathe in the perfect process of God molding us. He reveals Himself to us each and every day I pray we flourish in His perfecting process.

Put away your childish things, seek His image in the mirror, and meditate on your understanding of who God is. He is telling us who He is every step along your journey.

Rick

November 2011