Spiritual Food (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Just as we start life with milk as our sustenance and then grow to eating solid food, we start our spiritual lives with biblical “milk” and then grow in maturity by “eating” more solid biblical truth. At first, we need to be taught by godly men and women, but then we should get to the point where we prayerfully meditate on and study the Bible for ourselves, spending time thinking through and applying what we study.

If we never get to this place, we continue to live as spiritual infants, and that’s tragic.

Unfortunately, I think this is where so many Christ followers are in their spiritual journeys. And ever more unfortunately, this is why they so easily succumb to the lies of the enemy. Because they don’t study God’s word for themselves, prayerfully considering what God is telling them, they can’t discern what truth really is.

Believers are always at war with the flesh, but immature believers allow the flesh to win out more often than not. Paul seems to be saying that they’re content to be Christians by name, but fleshly by nature. They’re living, as one commentary put it, “like ordinary, unconverted men” (Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament).

If we’re truly followers of Christ, there should be a distinct difference in how we live in comparison to nonbelievers. We should desire to grow in faith. We should strive to live as Jesus did, demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We should be the light of Christ to a dark world (Philippians 2:15).

And if we’re not? If we’re just going through the motions? It would be better to not call ourselves Christians at all—and at least live honestly as “mere men.”

The Things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Sometimes—oftentimes—I look at what’s happening in this world, and I think Christ’s return must be imminent. How can God linger a whole lot longer?

So much corruption. So much perversion. So much selfishness.

Everyone is out for himself, and it doesn’t matter who gets hurt as long as he gets what he wants. Yes, there’s all kinds of talk about tolerance, but it seems like most people only tolerate those who are just like them.

No one wants to listen to a truth that requires sacrifice or service. No one wants to “accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him …” And those of us who do accept such things are fools, in the world’s eyes.

My heart breaks when I hear such disregard for faith and truth. And if I “have the mind of Christ” because of my faith in Him, then what must He feel? How His heart must break even more than mine does.

I don’t know how long it will be until Christ returns to finally put an end to sin and its destruction, but I pray it will be soon.

Illumination (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:10-13

When I started my ministry almost 10 years ago, I wrote the following statement of faith:

~š I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—one God in three Persons.
~š I believe that God the Father created heavens and earth and all that’s in them; that God the Son—Jesus—died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin and rose three days later; and that God the Holy Spirit dwells within each one who accepts the free gift of salvation and eternal life.
~š I believe that salvation comes only through the belief in and acceptance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
~ I believe the Bible is God’s word given to us through the pens of men. It is inerrant in its original text and is God’s truth.
~š I believe that those who choose to follow Jesus will spend eternity with Him in heaven, and those who do not will spend eternal life separated from Him.
š~ I believe we are to grow in our faith through continued study and meditation on God’s word.
~š I believe that God has uniquely gifted each of His children, and that we are to use those gifts to serve and glorify Him, serve each other, and ultimately grow His kingdom.

The very first statement deals with a concept called the “Trinity,” and one Person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit who indwells each of us who has accepted the gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God the Son.

It is the Holy Spirit who illuminates the Scriptures for us. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us to understand biblical truth. And it is the Holy Spirit who reveals the wisdom of God, “combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

If you want to understand the Bible and its truths, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal that truth to you. Ask, as Samuel did, centuries ago, “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant is listening …” (1 Samuel 3:10).

Unseen God (1 Corinthians 2:6-9)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-9

So much mystery surrounds faith. Indeed, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard” the face of God or His voice. In fact, that’s one of the things skeptics struggle with: belief in an unseen God.

But those of us who truly know God have seen Him in many ways. And we have heard His voice.

I see God in magnificent snow-covered mountains. I see Him in the faces of precious babies. I see Him in the roar of the ocean. I see Him in the flittering hummingbird just outside my window. I see Him in vibrantly-colored flowers and green grass and towering trees. I've seen Him in the pristine wilderness of Alaska and the crystal clear waters in Fiji. I see Him in the diversity of nature ... and of the people I'm blessed to know.

Or as Paul wrote, “God's eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. That's why those people don't have any excuse” (CEV, Romans 1:20).

I hear God’s voice in the silence as He speaks to my heart. I hear Him through the words of the Bible. I hear Him in the prayer of a friend. I hear Him in the laughter of a child. I hear Him through the melody of a praise song or an old hymn.

Our God is not some distant being whom we cannot know. Not at all. I know my God. I know Him intimately. And I have no doubt He is with me, guiding me, carrying me, protecting me, providing for me …

Yes, there is much I don’t know. There is much I won’t know this side of heaven. But that’s as it should be. I want to serve a God who is so much greater than I could ever be.

As God Himself said through His servant, Isaiah:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
      Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
       “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
      So are My ways higher than your ways,
      And My thoughts than your thoughts.
(55:8-9, NKJV)

Although much of God remains a mystery—and rightfully so—He will reveal Himself to a truly seeking heart.

If you don’t know this God who dearly loves you, if you’re still skeptical, do this. Just say, “God, if you truly exist, reveal Yourself to me.”

And He will.

The Foundation of Our Faith (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The foundation of our faith is the cross: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We who follow the God of the Bible believe in a triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit. One God. Three Persons.

When Adam and Eve decided to disobey God’s command to not eat of one single tree in the garden (Genesis 2:16-17), sin entered the world, and man was separated from God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and “the wages of sin is death”—eternal separation from God (Romans 3:23;6:23). The Son came to earth to pay that penalty, and it is through His death and resurrection that we find salvation.

It’s that simple. And that complex.

So many so-called preachers stand at pulpits speaking with eloquence and “persuasive words of wisdom,” yet their words are empty. They speak of how we can feel good. How we can prosper. How we can be successful.

Yet they fail to share the most important thing: “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Measure the words of those who claim to be preachers of the gospel. What are they really saying? Are they proclaiming truth? That one thing?

If not, keep looking until you find someone who is.