by Marcie Bridges, @Marcie_Bridges
Sometimes we seek wisdom and understanding from others. Sometimes through our own abilities and thoughts.
Here is part of the devotion from First5:
“Paul didn’t try to dress up his message with slick persuasion or palatable appeal. He didn’t clean up the shocking story line of the gospel. He didn’t diminish its upside down demands or tame its truth. Paul didn’t trust in his wisdom to teach or in the wisdom of his audience to understand. Paul trusted the Spirit of God who “searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10b). (italics mine)
Through His Holy Spirit, God reveals deep and mysterious truths about Himself, “explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (1 Corinthians 2:13). Through His Holy Spirit, God enables us to understand the words and works of Jesus. Through His Holy Spirit, God helps us rightly apply those words to our lives in a way that honors His character. (emphasis mine)
Why does Paul spend the first few chapters of this important letter to the Corinthian church talking about wisdom and how to find it? Because he’s inviting them to think biblically, not culturally, about wisdom. Paul is reframing what it means to be wise!
Through the rest of the letter Paul will address divisive issues the church is debating. From the outset, Paul desires that the church at Corinth not trust persuasion through manipulation, but seek the wisdom that comes from God’s Spirit.
When we disagree, when we wrestle with God’s truth and how to apply it, we are wise to seek the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit that gives us the mind of Christ! (1 Corinthians 2:16) The body of Christ should seek to be governed and guided by the mind of Christ. Oh, that we would seek to be wise more than we would seek to be right!” (Whitney Capps) ¹
Spirit of the Living God
fall fresh on me.
Your wisdom only I seek.
Not of Satan, not of man
not of myself do I give in.
Holy Spirit, breathe life in me.
Guide me, break me, mold me
use me.
Your will and Your way do I desire.
Only You, most precious Spirit,
may I look for my future and dreams.
Anxiety and worry flee in Your presence.
My soul drinks in Your Living Water
refreshing, renewing, reviving.
Spirit of the Living God
may Your truth set me free.
~Marcell Warner Bridges
©2016, All Rights Reserved.
Remind us Lord, that as we desire more of You and less of us that we MUST seek Your wisdom and Yours alone.
Speaking of wisdom will you pray with me as I work on my upcoming book that God would be the One to give me the poems and words to use in it to minister to all who would read it?
Loved, loved, loved your prayer/poem here inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within you, Marcie! I'm looking forward to ordering your book, too.
Blessings!
You've indeed blessed my heart today Martha. Thank you 🙂
I agree with Martha! This poem is splendid and heart rendering. Thank you for sharing YOUR wisdom with us also.
May Jesus Christ be praised and glorified alone. How precious is His words to me and I stand in awe that He would consider me worthy to write through me.