1 Corinthians 2:6-16
(v.14) “The natural man received not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
What of Today’s Verse…
We have been seeing that by going “into the sanctuary” – the place where God had made provision to meet with His people – the psalmist has put himself in a position where his perspectives can be changed. This section of the psalm is probably the most vital part, for it is here that his thinking begins to change from natural thinking to spiritual thinking. He had been thinking like a natural man, considering life from just one perspective, but in the sanctuary, he begins to see life from God’s point of view. What is the difference between natural thinking and spiritual thinking? Natural thinking is on the level of the earth – the level of man; spiritual thinking is on a higher-level altogether – the level of God. It is surprising that so many Christians think naturally about their problems rather than spiritually. The psalmist was a good and godly man but under the pressure of circumstances, he had reverted to thinking naturally about his problem. We will never learn to live effectively until we understand that the whole of life is spiritual, not just parts of it. In the chapter before us today the apostle asks, in effect, why it was that none of the rulers of this world recognised the Lord Jesus Christ when He was here. It was because they looked at Him from a natural perspective – they saw only a carpenter. Without the Holy Spirit operating upon their minds, they just could not understand. Ultimately, the problems and difficulties of life are all spiritual; so the sooner we learn to think spiritually, the better we will be.
Let us Pray:
Gracious and loving heavenly Father, I realise that if I am to become a spiritual thinker I must allow You to think in me. I have given You my heart; help me now to give You my mind. Think in me, dear Lord. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
One of the Twelve
It is believed that there were about 5000 believers during the time of Christ. Among those believers, it was thought there were three types. The largest number of believers was those who came to Jesus for salvation. They served him little beyond coming to him to receive salvation. A much smaller number, say 500, actually followed him and served Him. Then, there were the disciples. These were those who identified with Jesus. They lived the life that Jesus lived. Each of these ultimately died in difficult circumstances. They experienced the hardships, the miracles and the fellowship with God in human form.
If you had to say which group best represented your life, which one would fall into – the 5,000 who simply believed, the 500 who followed and sought to implement what they were learning from the saviour, or the 12 who identified completely with the life and mission of the Saviour? Jesus has called each of us to identify with Him completely. “This is how we know we are in him; whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” 1 (John 2:6).
Pray that God will allow you to walk as Jesus did. Experience His power and love in your life today so that others will see the hope that lies in you.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
