The Deep Things of God

Good morning/afternoon/evening! I'm glad you stopped by today!

Here's the question and answer from Sunday:
What is Nabal’s response to David’s request? (I Sam 25)
1 Samuel 25:10-11 0 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?"

Here's the question and answer from Monday:
Whose household informs Paul that there are quarrels among the Corinthians? (I Cor 1)
1 Corinthians 1:11 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

And here's the question of the day:
Tuesday: How did Saul die? (I Sam 31—I know, I know, another gruesome question!)


And here's the reflection of the day:
Paul gives his readers a little lesson in wisdom in today's reading from 1 Corinthians 2. At the time he was writing, the term "Christian" didn't exist. So he needed to create a way to distinguish between those who believed in Jesus and those who did not.

He talks about "speaking a message of wisdom among the mature" (v 6). And the particular kind of message he is talking about is "God's secret wisdom" (v 7), not "the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age" (v 6). This message is given to the "spiritual person" (v 15), which is a term that is synonymous with Christian in today's language.

A "spiritual person" has "not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God" at our baptisms so that we may be able to understand what God has revealed to us. This includes "even the deep things of God" (v 10). And so what "spiritual people" speak are not words of human wisdom which will pass away but instead speak "spiritual truths in spiritual words" (v 13).

"Spiritual people" like us (I'm going out on a limb and guessing that if you're reading this, you are probably a Christian/"spiritual person"), Paul says, "we have the mind of Christ" (v 16). Sometimes, when Paul says "we," he really means him and him alone. But other times, he says "we" and he really does mean "we." And, if he really does mean we when he says "we," then to this I say, "YIKES!!!"

Me? The mind of Christ? Do you know the mean and hurtful things I have thought about already this morning?! How could this be?

The "spiritual people" in Corinth were certainly not angelic in their behavior either, yet Paul invites them to be a part of the "we" who have the mind of Christ. This chapter is Paul's invitation to consider themselves as mature and having the mind of Christ, which probably means patterning one's life after Christ's example.

So, do you consider yourself to be part of Paul's royal "we"? Do you have the "mind of Christ" at work in you, guiding your thoughts and actions? What do you think are the "deep things of God?"

Have a splendid day!
Allison