The Role of God’s Ministers  “…What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul?  Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth...For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Praise of the Lord’s Power and Providence  “…From Heaven the Lord looks down and observes the whole human race…The one who fashioned the hearts of them all knows all their works…”

The Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law and other Healings  “…And demons also came out from many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’  But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah...”

The message found in God’s Word today “Always keep your eyes fixed on Jesus” was timely for me this week as I sat down to write this after spending a weekend at a silent retreat.  In 1 Corinthians, Paul has learned of this first century people’s divisions as they side up with their teachers, and ignore the message about Christ that was delivered.  Even for this first generation of listeners, keeping their heart close to the message was a difficult thing.

Imagine this scenario: you have just finished listening to a great speaker at a weekend retreat or maybe you have really connected with the message of a homily at your Sunday service.  The speaker is well prepared and knowledgeable.  You sit and soak in the information and you are impressed with the speaker’s wisdom.  The wisdom the teacher has, the listener wants as well.  How is it that this person knows Christ so well?  You wish you understood Jesus the way they do.  The subject matter is fascinating, because living at the time of the Lord was life changing for those who came in contact with Him, and you begin to understand why.  You return from the retreat to face the daily routines, many of which consume all of your time.  Slowly the message of the past weekend fades, as you wrap yourself back into the weavings of all that life demands of your attention.  Occasionally your mind will glance back to that weekend, but some of what you remember is the speaker, the human contact part of the experience.  The message gets lost, as it was getting lost to the listeners of that first century. 

Now, imagine Jesus watching this same scene.  He smiles at the realization that the awareness of Him, and His Way is growing in the listeners and He knows they are really making the connection.  How sad He must be to see the listener, go back to their same routine within such a short while.  He knows the old schedule keeps the listener from being able to sit with Jesus to listen and grow spiritually.  Paying God some of our attention is something God is calling each of us to everyday.  “Come sit with me awhile.”  Jesus says.  Today’s reading in chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians is yet another invitation for us to listen to the message, appreciate the teacher, but “Always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.”  Accept the invitation you receive at a retreat, to continue listening to the Lord.  Make it a part of your daily schedule.  Sit with God’s Word, or sit in silence and listen, and you too will have wisdom.  Can you imagine living in a world that listens to Jesus everyday? 

As I rode home from that retreat I played the music from that weekend over and over in my head.  I didn’t want to leave in the first place, I was so attracted to the atmosphere and the message.  But I can relate to the people of Corinth, who showed Paul their spiritual immaturity.  I think about how many times, while listening to a good speaker talk about Christ and His life, I have felt the emotion in the moment.  Then possibly due to laziness, I leave my focus on the messenger, the teacher and his or her message.  I stick with the tangible part of the experience, rather than immediately focusing on their subject, Jesus.  Paul wrote to these people, who lived so close to the time of Christ and told them that their focus had been on their teacher instead of focusing on Christ.  The teachers message is about Christ and Paul points out that neither he nor Apollos were very important as deliverers of the message, rather he said not to focus on the planter and the waterer, but rather look to the One who is responsible for your growth. 

So our goal is to spend the time with Jesus, so that we might always be able to recognize Him, so as to be able to love the way He loves.  In the gospel reading, I found it curious that the evil spirits, when expelled from the people Jesus were healing recognized Him.  Luke 4:41 “And demons also came out from many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’  But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.”  Knowing that even the evil spirits were able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, encourages me to be able to recognize Jesus myself.  Also, in the reading in 1 Corinthians Paul wrote and told the people “I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it.  Indeed, you are still not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh.” (1 Corinthians 3:2-3)  I know the pattern I so easily get into, from getting charged up at my weekend retreat to fading back into the world.  Let us dwell in the presence of the Lord and stay focused, Lord show us the way, everyday.