13 Dec, 2010

Puffed Up or Built Up?

Snow causes Metrodome roof collapse
 
A powerful storm dumped mounds of snow across the upper Midwest, closing highways, canceling flights and collapsing the roof of the Minnesota Vikings' stadium. The NY Giants-Minnesota Vikings game was postponed and moved to Detroit.
 
Full Story and Photo at news.yahoo.com.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (ESV)
 1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about "building up"?
As amazing as the Metrodome might have looked, from the outside or the inside, it wasn't made to handle the pressure of more than 17" of snow on the Teflon roof.  It truly caved in under pressure.  For the most part, it was air that held the roof up. You could say it was "puffed up."

God's Story talks about being "puffed up." In today's scripture verses we see that it is knowledge that "puffs up."   Tyndale's Life Application Study Bible reminds us that:

Love is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge can make us look good and feel important, but we can all too easily develop an arrogant, know-it all attitude.  Many people with strong opinions are unwilling to listen to and learn from God and others.  We can obtain God's knowledge only by loving him.  And we can know and be known by God only when we model him by showing love.
 
Only when we are "built up" by the love that God has for us can we withstand the pressures that come from the storms in this life.  All of the knowledge in the world can't take the place of God's Love. 
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
Is your relationship with Jesus built more on knowledge or love?  Talk with God about that today and allow him to speak into your life.  

How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
Do you know someone who struggles with trying to make themselves look better than other followers of Jesus by impressing them with their knowledge?  Find some time this week to gently remind them of today's God's Story scripture.
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