VerseMy message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.
— 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 tniv
ThoughtWhen the good news of Jesus is preached, the Holy Spirit is at work making the message powerful. This may refer to miracles accompanying the preaching of the message of Jesus (Hebrews 2:1-4). However, in this context, Paul is primarily focusing upon a greater truth. While the message of a crucified Savior doesn't appear to be wise and persuasive by human standards of wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18; 1 Cor. 2:1-3), the Holy Spirit is active in the telling of the story of Jesus so it has inexplicable power to reach into our hearts and call us to Jesus. For those of us who know the Holy Spirit, this power is not inexplicable; it is a reminder of God's grace to not only give us the gift of Jesus, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us understand the gift of Jesus!
PrayerWords cannot express, dear Father, how precious your love is to me. I realize that everything that I am and have in Jesus is the result of your grace. I believe that my future is secure because of that grace and because of the blessed Holy Spirit who is in me, and who helps convict, correct, and console me. I thank you for such grace in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
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— 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 tniv
ThoughtWhen the good news of Jesus is preached, the Holy Spirit is at work making the message powerful. This may refer to miracles accompanying the preaching of the message of Jesus (Hebrews 2:1-4). However, in this context, Paul is primarily focusing upon a greater truth. While the message of a crucified Savior doesn't appear to be wise and persuasive by human standards of wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18; 1 Cor. 2:1-3), the Holy Spirit is active in the telling of the story of Jesus so it has inexplicable power to reach into our hearts and call us to Jesus. For those of us who know the Holy Spirit, this power is not inexplicable; it is a reminder of God's grace to not only give us the gift of Jesus, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us understand the gift of Jesus!
PrayerWords cannot express, dear Father, how precious your love is to me. I realize that everything that I am and have in Jesus is the result of your grace. I believe that my future is secure because of that grace and because of the blessed Holy Spirit who is in me, and who helps convict, correct, and console me. I thank you for such grace in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
