April 18 – The Wisdom of the Believer (1 Corinthians 2:1-16)

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)

IN WORD:
This verse is the conclusion of the remarkable story of God’s wisdom being made manifest in this world. We started with complete bankruptcy. We end with being let in on the deep mysteries of God. Paul makes an astounding claim: “We have the mind of Christ” (2:16).
Most Christians believe at some level that God is unknowable. It is true that we can never know everything there is to know about Him. We will explore His depths for eternity and still be near the surface. But the unknown God has made Himself known in the Cross. There He is Judge and Redeemer, wrath and love, holy and merciful, mighty and wise. The power of God was revealed one black day on a hill in the Middle East, and no one expected it to look like that. It seemed shameful, but it resulted in victory, life, and peace. Everything we will ever need was made available there.
Need salvation? It is given to us. On the basis of Jesus’ blood and the power of His resurrection. Need wisdom? It is freely given at the Cross, too. Need anything at all from God? He calls us to meet Him there — every time, for every purpose. The Cross and resurrection were God’s ultimate intervention in this world and the basis of all meetings between the holy and the profane. The mysteries of the sacrificial Lamb run deed, but they are available to us, always and forever.

IN DEED:
The fifth lesson of wisdom from the Cross is this: Never underestimate the availability of God. God did not just scratch the surface at the Crucifixion. He reached into the depths and drew us out. He invites us into its victory and the resurrected life that follows — to know it, to savor it, and to tell it. Never cry out to God, “Where are You?” Without looking first at the Cross. Understand what He has freely given and base your life on it. At the Cross, His wisdom is yours.

“The Spirit breathes upon the Word, and brings the truth to sight.” -William Cowper-