Verse of the Day 8/19

Through the Bible - Psalm 116-119:48, 1 Corinthians 4   Good morning,   We've recently gone through Romans and have now moved into 1 Corinthians.  In reading Paul's words we can see that he was a well educated man.  He had sat under the teaching of Gamaliel and had some of the finest teaching of his time.  We can see in his writings that he was a gifted writer and based on the people he spoke in front of and the audiences he drew, he must have been a gifted orater as well.   But Paul had learned an important thing.  He was not to get in the way of the gospel through complicated sermons.  He was to let God do the talking through His word.  Paul was simply the messenger, promoting the simple, yet profound gospel message.   1 Cor 2:1  When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.   NLT   Paul could have crafted a flowing sermon with all the arguments and reasonings as to why someone should become a Christian. He chose to focus on Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.   Charles Spurgeon gives an idea of what was going on in Paul's mind when he wrote theses words. "But the apostle resolved to do no such thing. "No," said he, "before I enter the gates of Corinth, this is my firm determination; if any good is to be done there, if any are led to believe in Christ the Messiah, their belief shall be the result of hearing the gospel, and not of my eloquence. It shall never be said, 'Oh! no wonder that Christianity spreads, see what an able advocate it has;' but it shall be said, 'How mighty must be the grace of God which has convinced these persons by such simple preaching, and brought them to know the Lord Jesus Christ by such humble instrumentality as that of the apostle Paul!'" He resolved to put a curb upon his fiery tongue, he determined that he would be slow in speech in the midst of them; and, instead of magnifying himself, he would magnify his office, and magnify the grace of God by denying himself the full use of those powers, which, had they been dedicated to God,-as indeed they were,-but had they been fully employed, as some would have used them, might have achieved for him the reputation of being the most eloquent preacher upon the face of the earth."-   Charles Spurgeon  It is tempting as we study the Bible, teach Sunday School, lead Bible Studies, or send out daily devotionals to think too highly of our own training, of our opinions on the Bible.  Sometimes we have to read verses like today's to help us to realize that we won't win people over with eloquent words and impressive wisdom.  We will do more to let God's word shine in more ways than one.  Back up scripture with scripture in our teachings and discussions.  But also, let it shine in how you live your life.  Don't forget in word or deed about Jesus, the one who was crucified, in what He taught, what He did, what He has accomplished.   Paul decided to focus upon Christ crucified.  Alistar McGrath writes, "The cross is the unique and perfect sacrifice that covers and shields us from the righteous anger of God against sin, reconciles us to God and opens the way to the glorious freedom of the children of God.  Christ's death on the cross is seen to be as the unique, necessary and sufficient basis for salvation, which both demonstrates the full extent of God's love for us and establishes the centrality of Christ to Christian worship and adoration.  It is no accident that many of the greatest hymns within the evangelical tradition focus on the sufferings of Christ on the cross, emphasizing both the costliness and the reality of redemption that has been won through Him and is offered to us and to the world".  - From Evangelicalism & the Future of Christianity page 66   Can you think of some hymns or praise songs with that focus?  The Old Rugged Cross, Near the Cross, or another.  Sing one in your mind our out loud in praise for what He has done for us prior to teaching you next class or leading your next study.   In Christ, Mike 1 Cor 2:1-13   2 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.   6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,   "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."   10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. 12 And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.