Have you ever encountered a scripture and asked, "When did they add this to the Bible?"
Such a happening requires two things. It requires that one be familiar enough with the Bible to be surprised at finding something unfamiliar. And it requires a scripture that hits him/her hard enough to have an impact - perhaps even a minor epiphany - that lasts after "finding" it is over.
I have had this experience twice.
The first time was 10-12 years ago when I stumbled upon Hosea 13: 6 in which God talked about the fact that he had fed the wandering Hebrews, but that after doing so, "they were satisfied and their heart was proud; therefore they ignored me."
I have never forgotten my surprise at finding that passage in Hosea's book. It was hard to believe that I had overlooked such a significant passage in previous readings. It was easier to conceive of God amending all existing copies of Hosea by inserting this passage.
Since my "discovery" the passage has been a powerful warning to me - and hopefully to the churches I have served.
Of course, I knew and had read of Paul's call to take the word to the gentiles. Everyone has heard that in one form or the other.
But the words "rich variety" struck me. I have no more been able to rid my mind and heart of these words, than I have the words from Hosea. And, therefore, of course, I am "convinced" that they were not in Ephesians the previous times I read that letter. The only explanation then, is to conclude that God had again added a passage to the Bible.
I think that these this pair of "discoveries" are worthy of a place among the "theological magnets" that we in 2014 hang on the doors of the mental and emotional refrigerators in our minds, in our hearts, and in our character.
Let us therefore, resolve in 2014 to never allow ourselves or our congregation to, this year and all future years, become so satisfied by what we have or what we have done, that we forget who gave those gifts to us.
To accomplish this, we will need to remember how little we deserve the gifts God has given to us and how awesome it is that God gave them to us anyway.
Let us also resolve in 2014 to be, this year and all future years, open to anything and anyone which/who might enable us to make known through this part of the church, the wisdom of God in its rich variety.
To accomplish the latter, we will need to remember that God needs the gifts of all the people and thus we need to treat each other with respect - especially when we hold differing views.
When any of us starts to think that we are better and more important than others, we limit the rich variety that Paul celebrated and we forget God, just like the wandering Hebrews.
In that case, I must just as well have not "discovered" these two scriptural "amendments."
It can be a great new year.
Jim