Aug 3, 2009

Making Time

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2Co 5:17)

The English language does stress us somewhat. It is the lingua franca of the world though it lays no claim to having the widest vocabulary. Despite the great use of this medium, one is seldom confident that the grasp of the language is adequate in our churches today. In the use of English, prepositions and nitty stuff like commas, semi-colons and full-stops play a defining role in the mandate and texture of any communication. It is of paramount importance for one to pay attention to the juxtaposition of these ‘characters’. In the practice of legal work, there is much ado with regard to these. Rules and findings are fought over and dictated by these seemingly inconspicuous entries.

Considering 2 Co 5:17; take the word ‘therefore’ followed by the ‘comma’ and then the ‘if’, what is the Apostle Paul attempting to define or mandate? Do his prepositions denote a cyclical requirement attesting to a truth that if or therefore, one be in Christ? He further locked in tandem the ‘is’ and ‘in’; does this fusing confirm as an affirmative, the validating proof, of a presently and active relating, with the Lord? Why must the descriptor ‘passed’ be augmented by ‘away’; was the melding designed to convey more depth by implication in its direction?

The word ‘behold’ is not commonly used today; how would we attempt to translate and decipher accurately what Paul meant? Do we loosely interpret ‘behold’ as ‘look’ or may it suggest, especially with the commas, a grand entrancing, as with a great expectation ? And what about the ‘has come’? Would it not be significantly different, if it was scripted as "is coming" or "will be coming"?

Reading scripture does demand extended time and care. Whilst we would shun the reduction of textual study into a rigid or whimsical exercise, we cannot dismiss the need and importance of rightly dividing the truths. It is essential that we have an appreciation of the discipline of searching, and meditating on the word through the course of the day. The propensity to quickly finish our ‘quiet-times’, if indeed we do have them, is self-realizing. We deprive ourselves, when we hurry through lightly, given our time-schedules. The advice to have these times in the early part of the day is invaluable, considering that we be already drained, dull and tired at the end of the day. The practice of seeking the LORD is reflective of our priority in our daily living and our profession of faith. More suspect would be, the source of our strength and sufficiency, should we neglect having to seek the Father, firstly and foremost. The injunction to seek Him, with all our hearts, is particular. A lack in the plain reading of the holy writ alludes to an even greater scarcity in devotionals. Let us not be careless with a patient Heavenly Father who has given for us, nothing less than His Son. He, most indisputably, is due and is worthy, of much more.

Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (Psa 143:8)

God bless.



/ckh

No comments: