Focus

Relax and listen. Consciously prepare to hear God’s Word. Clear your mind of the worries and tasks that lie before you. Open your heart and allow it to refresh.

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Read

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

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Reflect

In this passage, Paul seems to be dealing with criticism that he isn’t the ideal minister. He is not eloquent or forceful enough. This passage sets up examination or self-reflection for Paul and then Paul turns it around and challenges the Corinthians to examine themselves.  Paul may have weaknesses, but he has found strength in the power of God. In turn, Paul questions what wisdom and power the Corinthians are following.
Verses 1-5 Paul reflects on himself and then begins to question the the Corinthians–is your faith based on human wisdom or the power of God?

Paul indicates that the mature person understands his message as the wisdom of God. The reason they can understand the wisdom Paul preaches is that they have the proper relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is active in the mature persons life. The Holy Spirit reveals wisdom to the mature. In contrast, the person who has not become mature, or does not have the Holy Spirit revealing wisdom can only judge things according to the wisdom of humanity.

As the season of Lent approaches we will need to examine ourselves to see if we are following God’s wisdom or human wisdom.

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Pray

God, open our eyes that we may rightly judge our hearts and thoughts.  Where we find our hearts are not attuned to your Spirit, give us wisdom and strength to repent and turn wholly to you.  Amen

Go with God!