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1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. 6 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. 7 But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 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"— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. 14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:1-16 NRSV)
Happy Wednesday, dear Friend. I trust this day finds you well and enjoying the peace and presence of our Lord Jesus. May our time together in God's word be like having a quiet time in God's garden of tranquility and peace. May it serve to strengthen us and embolden us for battle against all that has come against us by the enemy.
I love the Apostle Paul. He and Peter were identical brothers from different mothers. Paul was always truthful and never had any airs about himself or his abilities. In this first verse he tells it like it was; "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." I so identified with those words as I started my internship. My first language was español and I learned English along the way and in school. The more English I learned the less Spanish I could use. And then to come from 12 years of public school, 3 years of university, and two of seminary to a very proud and proper Castellaño setting called El Mesias; well, I was like Paul. Weak and afraid. My meetings with my Internship committee were first about how well I could preach in Spanish. I knew I could get my point across but it weren't pretty. My not-yet-to-be my girlfriend was on the SPRC and she defended me even before she knew me. And she was on the same page: "Does he get his point across?" Yes, the committee sheepishly admitted. My standing in the pulpit was a testament to the power of God and not human wisdom. My friends and MYF acquaintances didn't give me a chance to succeed. One said I was boring and would be a boring pastor. Thanks, God, for getting me here!
Paul had more reason to be scared for he traveled alone into areas not yet familiar with God or God's Son, and the ones who knew God were his Jewish brethren, and they had no love for Jesus. The wisdom of men would have told any other man, go home, take it easy and let someone else do it. The power of God said, Head right into what no one else would do, and tell the world about Jesus.
It won't be wisdom to win people over for Jesus; it will be the power of God. I know that means all of us reading this are qualified to share Jesus. Just open your heart, engage it, and then open your mouth. Pray and give witness to what God has done. A great theologian once said, "Evangelism (telling others about Jesus) is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread." Indeed. Start today.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for helping me once upon a time to find bread; the Bread of life. My life has not been the same since. Now, please put me to work in sharing Jesus with others hungry for bread. Empower me and use me; in the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share the bread of life with the hungry in your midst.
Receive my blessings of love and peace.
Pastor Eradio
BONUS: Song about The Apostle Paul:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxv0XGa1tV0
