The Devotional – 1410 – Words are clouds without rain!

The Devotional – 1410 – Words are clouds without rain!

Proverbs 17:8 – A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; wherever he turns, he prospers.

 

 Comments and challenges

It seems as if most of my thoughts are founded on things of “way back yonder” now I don’t know if this qualifies as having a short term memory loss, or just reminiscing over the yonder years of way back when. However, over time and if you care to look back you should be able to see the valleys and peaks of living. Now truly there are only two ways to live life; one is for self and the other is for God. One way or the other does not eliminate the valleys, whether you live for self or for God your life will, like everyone else be full of peaks and valleys.

For most of the world around us, living for God is as foreign getting a Rhode Islander to cross the border into Massachusetts or Connecticut. Now I know you folks out west and other places who read these devotionals believe this is a New England joke, but contraire, contraire ole friend; it is true. Once some years ago we invited a family to our home in Connecticut, the family lived in Rhode Island less than twenty miles from our home. The father wanted to know if there were any motels nearby for a stay over; so we seldom invite Rhode Islanders to our home now.

Living for God or living for the world are not normal everyday thoughts for most of us so this morning my intentions is to get us moving in that direction for a brief study of 1 Corinthians. Yet and you know that I struggle with studies since I am much more the story teller than the “Bible or Pulpit Thumper” but I think the LORD is leading me to do this so I have to follow His lead. I will be starting in chapter 2, verse 7 and reading through the end of the chapter.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

I have noticed in the study of the Word of God and when fellowshipping with others that we all share the same basic truth that Jesus Christ the Son of God is demonstrated in our hearts to be the TRUTH and that by the grace of God through faith in the Living Word (who is Christ) John 1:14 we have in our hearts this wonderful testimony of Salvation by grace through faith.

Yet and I am not sure why; there seems to be a breakdown when it comes to understanding this wisdom of God in us. In fact; I would say that for some of us the wisdom of God is like trying to drive a car if you’ve never driven one before. I am not seeking to be critical here so please pick up your spiritual armor and lay down those emotional thoughts that always seem to desire a sandwich at the banquet, instead of the full meal.

The text above plainly explains that unbelieving people are the ones who seek, speak and speed about in the world with natural mindedness. These then are not spiritually minded, nor can they be since they have no capacity for spiritual things. The things of the natural mind never incorporate or mix with the things of the Spirit of God, if the natural minded person seeks spiritual things these folks end up in religions taught by natural minded people. Therefore it is impossible for the natural minded person to understand the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.

Later in chapter three the apostle Paul speaks of these two ways of living life on this earth in this way. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 – And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

As I said earlier, there are only two ways to live life; for one’s self or for God, when believers have difficulty shifting gears or have difficulty with living for self or for God, the apostle Paul adds a third dimension to this by saying that those who have this difficulty are identified by him as being “carnal” or literally fleshly (natural mindedness and spiritual mindedness mixed). We have always applied the fleshy or carnal minded believer in Jesus Christ as one who likes their sins, but I want us to take a deeper look into what the apostle is may be driving at.

So for the next few days we will leave it at that, I know this is like aborting a precious moment or crossing the border from Rhode Island to Connecticut (we want to stay home in the Word, I don’t blame you me too, but time is running out). Well, there is a motel nearby but I do not recommend it, but I do recommend hymn 517 in our churches hymnals. “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail pierced Hands.

His gift of Life to me is precious and He is my abiding place and I hope He is yours too.