Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 26th

Paul’s Commitment in Corinth

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God,”
1 Corinthians 2:5.

Every summer, alumni from my high school alma mater, who made it big in football, return to town to coach a one-week summer football camp. Their expertise on the field helps young children to become better football players. Although they are gifted and experienced, they teach on the children’s level. Much like a Doctor of Theology teaching a preschool class, they do not inundate the children with knowledge they cannot grasp.
Similarly, Paul did not overwhelm the Corinthians with lofty theology or deep debates. He did not come “with excellency of speech or of wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:1), though he could have. Paul was quite educated, and he was clearly a deep theological thinker. However, to show the Corinthians it was not their excellence in speech nor their intelligence that brought grace or power from God, he preached to them abased, not knowing anything (verse 2), in weakness, fear, and trembling (verse 3), and without enticing words (verse 4). He said in his second letter to them he abased himself so they might be exalted and preached the gospel to them freely (2 Corinthians 11:7). As in 1 Corinthians 1, high speech and knowledge come from the Lord and are assets for the kingdom, but unnecessary for sharing the gospel. The gospel message is simple, and it is fitting for philosophers and small children alike.
Many believers today feel the same way or at least make similar statements. Because they are not well-learned in the Word or do not have a theology degree, they feel like they are hindered from evangelizing and sharing the gospel. Confidence does not come from having a deep knowledge but from the Lord. As stated in 1 Corinthians 2:5, our faith is not in man’s wisdom, which we build up ourselves, but in the power of God.

THOUGHT: All the world’s wisdom without the power of God achieves nothing for the kingdom.

Kelli Reynolds