Epiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 5, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.  — 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

I do not like to shop. Stores quickly overload my senses with too many choices and thus too many comparisons. Thus I was surprised one Christmas when one of my nephew’s opened his gift from me. His eyes lit brightly and he said, “How did you know I wanted one of these. I didn’t know I wanted one!” It was some kind of radio that had to be built from the parts and tools that were provided. It was a gift I finally selected out of pure frustration because he meant a lot to me and I did not want to disappoint him.

Paul writes sometimes with the assumption that we, the readers, know what is going on in his head when we don’t. Our scripture today is a shining example of that. What I think he is trying to say is sort of like what my nephew said to me. Although Paul does not address God in this scripture, he is telling us about his relationship with God to whom Paul said, “How did you know to select me to share the good news of Christ to the gentiles, when I didn’t know that was the very thing I wanted to do.”

I think the message here may be that we should listen when that still small voice speaks calling us to service and not let the doubt that creeps in rob us of the joy of doing what we didn’t know we wanted to do. God may actually know what God is doing.

Prayer: Lord, help me be still and know that you are God. In those times when I am most doubting myself but projecting that doubt on you, grant me the courage to see doubt for what it really is and move past it. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.