“I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.” (1 Corinthians 7:25) The contrast in this passage is not between the inspired teaching of Christ and the less inspired teaching of the Apostle. It is rather between teaching for which Paul can appeal to the words of Christ and teaching to which he appeals to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Both are binding on our conscience. “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof and instruction in righteousness”. We regard all Scripture as authoritative, even those parts which come from Paul’s mind, guided by the Spirit. In a few hours, it will be our privilege to gather around God’s word. I wonder how many of us will have appropriate reverence for the book we hold in our hands. It is the word of God! May the Spirit who wrote it guide us to understand and obey. My love to you all.
What a coincidence as I have been praying/thinking through this very thing all this week. I am going to meditate on what you have said, as I feel it is part of the Lord’s answer to my prayers.
Although some may think less of me because I have questions/am not perfect, I see myself more like the Bereans who searched the scriptures to find out what actually was True.
That being said, I still have only many, many questions and few answers at this point.
I was in Dallas last night watching my girls ice skate and there was a woman who was talking to herself. All the other people either just did not see her or glanced at her with suspicious/scared/condemning looks. I began to intercede for her and then sat down next to her. I continued to intercede and asked for (among other things) God to give her His Peace. As she began to “settle down” she finally looked over at me and I smiled at her. She smiled back with the sweetest smile but then went back to her “conversation”… a little later she calmed down even further and she initiated a conversation with me. So there we were…. hanging out…. just her, me and God. My family came and distracted me, but before she left she politely got my attention so that she could say goodbye. This is why I search the scriptures as though my Life and the Life of others depends on it. I want to know Him/His ways and the provision He has for the people he loves so dearly.
That being said, I think He is gently steering me back on course and I thank you for letting Him use you to do so.
God Bless you!!