March 31 1 Samuel 8-10 & 1 Cor. 11

Having been an active child (a kind way of saying troublesome at least at times), it is not easy to parent children. You can give the best example, and sometimes the children just don’t get it. Samuel was an excellent example to his children. 1 Sam 8:3 tells us they did not follow his example. Are there perfect parents? I don’t think so. Mine was good, very good in some ways, but in others, I had to learn in the course of living my own life that they weren’t and I had to choose a better path, which I do not always choose wisely. Leadership is essential, whether we are talking about a family or a nation or a church. How are you doing in your leadership positions? If improvement is needed, do you seek out ways to do so? If you are doing some things well, do you thank God and humbly accept praise? Israel was at a transition point and not a good one. They wanted to be like the other nations and have a king. Well, they had one GOD. There new judges and some people would not follow. The most damning line in the passion of Christ is, we have no king but Cesar. Do we look to God and our Lord Jesus for our example? Do we listen to and imitate the leadership style and skills of Jesus? Are Christians just like everyone else or can you see a difference?

Paul tries to give the Corinthians tangible help by saying 1 Cor.11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Paul, they could see, and Paul could see in his heart Christ. We need women and men, mothers and fathers, neighbors and friends that can show us with their hands and feet what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ. Paul’s account of the Lord’s Supper is the oldest record we have. His account of the Corinthian community should also give us pause to think about our community and celebration of the Lord’s Supper. 1 Cor 11:29, “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.” Gives me and I hope you much food for thought on how we treat our neighbor as we come to the Table of the Lord Sunday after Sunday. And who is my neighbor?