Monday, August 06, 2007

A Reading in Reverse

During a devotional time in my training class in Cambodia, I suddenly remembered a Youtube video where a reading in reverse of the same article drastically changed the entire meaning. Suddenly, I felt the urge to do the same in this passage of 1 Timothy 4:12-15

The Passage:

Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young.
Be an example to all believers in what you teach,
in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
Until I get there,
focus on reading the Scriptures to the church,
encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you
when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.
Give your complete attention to these matters.
Throw yourself into your tasks
so that everyone will see your progress.

Now the reading in reverse:

So that everyone will see your progress
throw yourself into your tasks
Give your complete attention to these matters
when the elders of the church laid their hands on you
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you
Focus on reading the Scriptures to the church
until I get there
Encouraging the believers, and teaching them
in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity
Be an example to all believers in what you teach
Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young

Notice the difference?
The first started with a negative assertion.
The reading in reverse begun with a positive assumption.
Both, like bookends, laid down the instructions and reasons for asserting and assuming such.
But at the center of both readings, is the admonition to "Focus on public reading of the Word."
Hmmmmm.... what more can I say.

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