March 12th, Thursday, 1 Corinthians 2&3

1 Cor 2
Power
Paul did not imitate the itinerant teachers in Corinth who depended on their eloquence and intellectual brilliance.
Paul's faith was in God, not in himself.
He wanted sinners to trust in Christ's power.
You may think you lack ability to serve God, but God can turn your weakness into strength.
See the Gospel still works.

1 Cor 3
Wisdom.
The Jews asked for demonstrations of power, and the Greeks looked for wisdom – both of which were available in Jesus Christ.
All you have to do is to ask God.
He loves to give wisdom to those who ask with a sincere heart.
A deeper wisdom of God is available for those who are mature.
So allow the Spirit of God to teach you about the Son of God from the Word of God.
Don't trust your own opinions.
Study the Word and grow up in Him.
Wisdom and power – they go together.
They need each other and they keep the Christian life balanced.

Maturing.
We will never outgrow the nourishing milk of the Word.
But we cannot grow strong unless we also have the solid food.
See, we grow by eating and exercising, and it takes both.
So exercise yourself in the Word.
Age is no guarantee of spiritual maturity.

Harvesting.
Everybody had a place in the Lord's harvest.
And all are doing His work.
There must be no competing or comparing.
For the Lord alone recognizes the work and gives the reward.
It makes no difference who the servant is – so long as Jesus Christ is Lord of the harvest.

Building.
Paul writes about the local church and the materials we put into it as we minister.
Substituting man's wisdom for God's Word means building with perishable materials that will burn up at the judgment seat of Christ.

Glorifying God.
Warren Wiersbe in his book, Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary, writes that, “Because the Corinthian believers glory the human teachers and human wisdom, they robbed God of the glory rightly belonged to him.”
Let no one boast in man – that is a command, not a suggestion.
It was Vance Hafner who said, “If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees.”
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.