Daily Bread 2010 - 1 Corinthians 2
Daily Bread 2010 – 1 Corinthians 2
Wisdom From the Spirit
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Paul spends quite a bit of time distinguishing between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. When he speaks of a “secret wisdom” he is “tongue in cheek”, as the biggest heresy in His day claimed to have a “secret wisdom”, which when acquired allowed one to become like a god.
But Paul argues that God’s Spirit comes from outside of ourselves, not from within. As we come to Christ and believe in faith that He is the Son of God, we receive a new Spirit within us, the Spirit of God. This is the Spirit that helps us to understand what God wants and helps us as we pray and read the bible to make application for today’s living. Wisdom it has been said is, “Understanding things from God’s perspective”.
But people without the Spirit of God will not understand or discern the things of God, so they will seem like foolishness to them. That is why often as you try to explain a spiritual experience or moment to someone who isn’t a believer, they kind of look at you like you have a “screw loose”. In the end Paul makes an incredible statement that is easy to miss, “But we have the mind of Christ.”
As you are making decisions in your life are they based on your own wisdom, or are you operating in the Spirit of Christ and with all the wisdom he promises you?
Prayer: Dear Jesus send Your Spirit to help us make good decisions and rely on Your wisdom rather than our own. Give us the mind of Christ so we can think, feel and act in the manner He would if He were in our shoes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wisdom From the Spirit
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Paul spends quite a bit of time distinguishing between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. When he speaks of a “secret wisdom” he is “tongue in cheek”, as the biggest heresy in His day claimed to have a “secret wisdom”, which when acquired allowed one to become like a god.
But Paul argues that God’s Spirit comes from outside of ourselves, not from within. As we come to Christ and believe in faith that He is the Son of God, we receive a new Spirit within us, the Spirit of God. This is the Spirit that helps us to understand what God wants and helps us as we pray and read the bible to make application for today’s living. Wisdom it has been said is, “Understanding things from God’s perspective”.
But people without the Spirit of God will not understand or discern the things of God, so they will seem like foolishness to them. That is why often as you try to explain a spiritual experience or moment to someone who isn’t a believer, they kind of look at you like you have a “screw loose”. In the end Paul makes an incredible statement that is easy to miss, “But we have the mind of Christ.”
As you are making decisions in your life are they based on your own wisdom, or are you operating in the Spirit of Christ and with all the wisdom he promises you?
Prayer: Dear Jesus send Your Spirit to help us make good decisions and rely on Your wisdom rather than our own. Give us the mind of Christ so we can think, feel and act in the manner He would if He were in our shoes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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