Good morning! Have you ever had conversations that begin very basic like “Hi! How are you doing?” Then with a group or person you are comfortable with you tend to go deeper and beyond the basic formalities to more thought provoking questions about life and your journey through it.

Today in 1 Corinthians chapter 2:6-12, Paul explains his ability to teach to nonbelievers and new believers in a manner in which the Holy Spirit gave him words to speak so that listeners could understand and receive the gospel message (the Good News). While Paul relied on the Holy Spirit and not his own wisdom, today we will read about his ability to also engage the mature believer with wisdom beyond his fleshy comprehension, the wisdom that only comes from God. Join me as we reading chapter 2.

“⁶ Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. ⁷ No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God^[c]—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. ⁸ But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. ⁹ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”^{[Isaiah 64:4]}

¹⁰ But^[e] it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” – 1 Corinthians 2:6-12 NLT

Paul reminds us that earthly wisdom cannot compare to the vast wisdom that God gives to his children. That is why it is so important to grow in our relationship with God, in our faith and in the word of God. If I may expand on my thoughts, when children attend grade school (kindergarten to fifth grade) they learn the basics (e.g., how to read, how to process simple math, and apply it). After grade school they promote to middle school and high school to further develop the skills that they learned in grade school. They also learn advance lessons that they may or may not use in everyday life, but they learn it just in case.

When a nonbeliever becomes a Christian they are learning the basics, the most important things the gospel message of Jesus Christ being crucified for our sins (His death and ressurection), the free gift of salvation and eternal life. As we grow in our Christian faith the Holy Spirit that lives within every believer begins to reveal to us the glorious mysteries of God. As we mature, the Spirit feels us with revelation and understanding of God, his word, his promises and our purpose. Therefore, brothers and sisters it is important that we understand the basics of our faith and our life in Christ, but we must also continue to mature/grow in our faith so that we may partake in the greater understanding of the scriptures and the mysteries of God.

These things are unavailable to nonbelievers. Nonbelievers may have the knowledge, but they will never experience the fullness of knowing the Spirit of God without accepting Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Don’t let the world hold you back from being all that God has designed you to be. Don’t let the desires of your life before Christ drag you back into bondage. The Lord loves you and has a great plan for you. Grow in faith, in the word and seek time with the Lord.

Father God, thank you for your word today. Lord, thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Lord, forgive us of our sins (known and unknown). Lord, thank you for salvation. Lord, we desire to know you more. Lord, we want to be stretched beyond our foundational Christian beliefs and values. Lord, we want to fully understand your word deep in our hearts. We want to experience and understand the deeper mysteries of God. Lord, unveil our eyes, open our deaf ears and remove our selfish and disobedient spirits so that we can freely experience, accept and apply all that you have for us. Lord, we say yes to you and whatever you are calling us to do. Lord, breathe your Holy Spirit down on us and move in us like never before. Transform us and change us to be more like you. Lord, you know every prayer, tear and frustration we have faced this year, this month and this week and we ask that you answer our prayers, restore the broken and remove all forms of anxiety. Lord, you know our love for you and our desire to love others as ourselves, help us to do that. Equip us to share your love with the world. In Jesus name, amen.

Keep praying, the Lord hears you! Keep seeking! Keep trusting the process!

#LivingBeyondAverage #20/20Vision #Refocus #StayFocused

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