Thought for December 2, 2024

• 1697: St. Paul's Cathedral in London consecrated. 
• 1804: Napoleon crowned Emperor of France
• 1823: President Monroe presents the Monroe Doctrine
• 1901: King Gillette begins selling safety razor blades
• 1927: First Model A Ford sold [$385]
• 1942: First self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction by Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago
• 1950: "I Robot" published by Issac Asimov
• 1969: First public preview of the Boeing 747
• 1970: EPA begins operations
• 1888: "Naked Gun" premiers
• Born: George Seurat, Charles Ringling, Maria Callas, Alexander Haig, Dan Jenkins, Ed Meese, Gianni Versace, Ann Patchett, Monica Seles, Britney Spears, Aaron Rogers
• Died: Hernan Cortes, Marquis de Sade, John Ringling, Desi Arnaz, Aaron Copeland

I love to hear Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" written in 1942. Wake-up music for the Space Shuttle crew, played at the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial, heard in Independence Hall as the Pope spoke on religious freedom from the lectern used by Lincoln at Gettysburg.  It lifts my spirit.

Thought:

Reading one verse this morning--1 Corinthians 8:9---But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 

Paul  has been teaching the Corinthians that they  are not defiled by what they eat and that arguing about that is unproductive. Then he warns about being a stumbling block to the weak. He tells me not to get so wrapped up in expressing my freedom that I create a stumbling block for someone else. This is a difficult line to walk. Viewed from a secular perspective, I am letting the weak, immature impinge on my liberty. Viewed from God's perspective, I am demonstrating love and concern for my neighbor. I see this battle in our world today---some people appear to be over sensitive, take comments in the worst possible light, and thereby limit my liberty to speak and act lest I be labeled a bigot or racist. 

 

I guess the question is, "what does it mean to love my neighbor as myself." Am I willing to forego certain rights I have to avoid causing them to stumble? My mom used to tell me that just because I had the right to do something did not mean that it was right to do it. The classic case is coming to an intersection in my car where I have the right of way--the other car is to yield to me. But I see that the car is not yielding. I have a right to proceed, but it is not right to do so and cause an accident. We hear people often say, I have a right, but ignore their responsibility. I think that is what Paul is telling me--think about your responsibility first. I am responsible to honor Christ, to live in love, to live in unity, to example Christ's sacrificial living. Make sure I am doing that before I start exercising my rights. This is hard for me, so Holy Spirit, take control so that I meet my responsibilities.

Blessings

Larry