The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the author of all truth is God.\u00a0 Paul in chapter two is dealing with the issue of truth and wisdom.\u00a0 Specifically he deals with types of wisdom and who can understand God’s wisdom.<\/p>\n
First, beginning in verse six Paul tells the church at Corinth that true wisdom isn’t human wisdom.\u00a0 In our culture today, we seem to elevate people and call them “gurus” if they are able to come up with something that amazes us.\u00a0 While discovery is amazing, it should amaze us even more that even though we are just learning it, God already knew it.\u00a0 He is the one that made it discoverable for us.\u00a0 Paul says that he doesn’t want to give the Corinthians his wisdom, but rather he wants to share God’s wisdom with them.\u00a0 Paul began talking about godly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 1:18.\u00a0 In context we see that the wisdom of God was to send Jesus into the world to die for sinful mankind.\u00a0 We see that God’s wisdom confounds even the wisest of people.\u00a0 In verse 7 Paul mentions the “hidden wisdom.”\u00a0 Paul wants the Corinthians to know and us to know that there are simply some things that we are not going to know.\u00a0 However, just because we don’t know it, doesn’t mean that it is unknown.\u00a0 The “hidden wisdom” is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong unto the Lord.”\u00a0 We see it talked about in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My way, saith the Lord.”\u00a0 Many people find this very frustrating, the fact that they can’t figure out life or the fact that there are things that happen that simply don’t make any sense.\u00a0 Many times in church circles when these events occur in our life, we say to just trust God and the fact that He knows what He is doing.\u00a0 Sometimes I wonder if we really mean many of the things we say, or if we say them because that is what we think we are supposed to say (that’s a whole other post at a later time).\u00a0 Two things come to my mind concerning the “hidden wisdom” of God.\u00a0 First, there is a God and I am not Him, so I don’t have to know everything.\u00a0 Secondly, I’m glad that I can’t figure out God, because if I could figure Him out, why would I need Him?\u00a0 When the unexpected happens we must remember that God is in control, that He does have a plan, and we must choose to praise Him, even when it is hard to see Him.<\/p>\n
Towards the end of the chapter, Paul switches gears a little.\u00a0 He goes from talking about man’s wisdom versus God’s wisdom to talking about who can understand God’s wisdom.\u00a0 Time and time again I have to remind myself, I can’t expect the lost to act like the saved.\u00a0 I catch myself thinking or saying, “don’t you know how bad of a choice that is and that this is not what God desires for you.”\u00a0 But then I have to remind myself, they don’t have a relationship with God yet.\u00a0 In verses 13-14 we see two truths.\u00a0 First, if I am going to learn the Bible, I am going to have to be Spirit taught.\u00a0 Anything I learn about God’s Word is because God’s Spirit is teaching it to me.\u00a0 This helps keep me humble and to fulfill 1 Corinthians 1:31, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”\u00a0 Secondly, spiritual truths are foolishness to the lost.\u00a0 The natural man is a reference to a person who has never trusted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.\u00a0 They are still in the same state they were born in, lost.\u00a0 Again, we cannot expect the lost to act like the saved.\u00a0 The answer to man’s problems is not more programs, it is the Gospel.\u00a0 Once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit begins the process of transformation in which based upon God giving them a new heart, they have a renewed mind, and live a renewed life.\u00a0 The old things will not attract them as much anymore, rather they will want to please God.\u00a0 None of this can happen without the person first being born-again (John 3:3).<\/p>\n
So as this devotion closes, let me challenge all of us.\u00a0 First, be patient with the lost, they are only doing what comes natural to them, the same way you and I did before Christ saved us and began to transform us.\u00a0 If you want lasting change in someone, they need a new heart and a renewed mind, nothing less will do.\u00a0 Secondly, pray and ask God to give you faith to be okay with the things in life you may not understand or may not know.\u00a0 Profess your trust in Him that even though you can’t see the single tree for the forest, He does and He will walk with you through it.<\/p>\n
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the author of all truth is God.\u00a0 Paul in chapter two is dealing with the issue of truth and wisdom.\u00a0 Specifically he deals with types of wisdom and who can understand God’s wisdom. … Read More