Daily Lesson for September 20, 2017

Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verses 1 through 13:

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so 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.7But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.9But, 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’— 

10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For 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. 12Now 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. 13And 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.

What we as Christians have to give to the world is not a philosophy and our sharing of it is not for the sake of entertainment.  What we have been given to share is not a human wisdom.  And our words are not the tickling of the ear with a well-delivered 20 minute monologue.

What we have to share is God's wisdom, secret and hidden, and available only by the power of God. Those gifted for its sharing are not necessarily naturally gifted speakers.  In fact, natural gifts can mislead and delude. Natural giftedness may very well be a curse and not a blessing. 

The blessing of Christian proclamation is a mystery. It is a gift hidden in and revealed only by God.

Pray for your pastor. Pray for me. Pray that we find our gifts. Pray especially that we find our gift in the Gift Giver.