All that God Has prepared for Those who Love Him {1 Corinthians 2}
10:30 PM
As we read the
first chapter of 1 Corinthians, we find Paul writing to a Church in which both
Jews and Gentiles were trying to mold their old beliefs into the new Christian
Church. Most of the members were Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with
the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct of the other. There was great disagreement among them, so
Paul’s letter is reminding them that in Christ we are called to be ONE
(1Corinth. 1:10-17). In today’s chapter
Paul continues: “And
when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the [a]testimony of God [concerning
salvation through Christ],”…” 4 And my message and my preaching were not in
persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered]
in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power
[stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], 5 so that your faith would not rest on the
wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.” (2:1, 4-5)
Paul lived among the Corinthians for about a year and
a half (Acts 18), and all this time he preached to them not with persuasive
words, but with his testimony: a life filled with total surrender and the power
of the Holy Spirit!
This reminds me of the lives of two young men whom I
love: both my sons-in-law. They have a
similar background. They both come from dysfunctional homes and their mothers
had to work hard to put a plate of soup on their tables. One grew up in a very
poor cottage in a country in Southern Africa, the other one in a very poor
neighborhood in Southern Mexico. They both found Jesus as teenagers and knew
that the only way their families would one day come to Christ’s Salvation was
to become living witnesses among their families. To bring their families out of
poverty was one of the desires God had set in their hearts and they HAD to hold
on to His Promises and to walk in obedience.
Most of us know this next verse by heart:
“Things which the eye has
not seen and the ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” (Vs. 9)
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” (Vs. 9)
I like the
following comment to this verse: "These words have been applied to the
state of glory in a future world; but certainly they belong to
the present state, and express merely the wondrous light, life, and
liberty which the Gospel communicates to them that believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ in that way which the Gospel itself requires." (Clarke)
Isn’t it a
wonderful promise? Well, these young men worked hard in their spiritual and
personal life, and even went through hardship as they continued in their
Christian walk. They both have
faithfully served in their Churches and the have served and cared for their
mothers and siblings!
The young
African man earned his scholarship to one of the best Universities in England
and has a Master’s degree and is now working for a great company in Africa. One
of his siblings not only received Christ as His Savior but is now a Pastor!
The young
Mexican man could not finish school due to a disease that nearly made him
blind, but he became a successful carpenter and now runs his own business. They are both excellent husbands to my daughters
and awesome parents to our grand-children! Our family has been deeply blessed
by their lives and their testimonies!
But at the same
time I sadly realize there are still many of my extended family and friends who
are still living in their natural mind! “But the natural [unbelieving] man does
not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of
understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated,
[and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].” (Vs.14 AMP)
M. Henry
explains the following last verses: “The spiritual man only, is the person to
whom God gives the knowledge of his will. How little have any known of the mind
of God by natural power! And the apostles were enabled by his Spirit to make
known his mind. In the Holy Scriptures, the mind of Christ, and the mind of God
in Christ, are fully made known to us. It is the great privilege of Christians,
that they have the mind of Christ revealed to them by his Spirit. They
experience his sanctifying power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits
in their lives.”
Yes thank you Lord!
I pray this may become a reality in the lives of our loved ones, too!
Blessings,
Mari
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