1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15 ~ understand them because they are spiritually discerned

1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15


The person without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

3 But I, brothers,^{[brothers and sisters]} could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Isaiah 32:17
The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!



No one is called to joy all the time. We feel worried, even the disciples had fear during their time with Jesus. Paul recorded the end of his life for us to see. He was unhappy and worried. Fake joy is unbecoming. The Scriptures convict us if we are to grow. Sometimes that's uncomfortable.

Sarcasm is not the language of God.

If we feel that God would hold us in deep conviction - we should listen. God is so large we will be called to different aspects of God in different times in our lives.

This is an adventure. Sometimes the adventure is pure joy - but looking at each day for the sufficiency. Times will change. Value what you have today. Look at your life. Your children are young - drink in that innocence. Your children are pre-teens and awkward - rejoice in the first steps to adulthood. Your children are teens - memories are made. Don't forget - you don't own your kids. They aren't your friends - but don't let them forget they are your friends. We have to parent, but we want them to remember We Like Them. They are part of the team.

Your children are in college - Pray - for roots and wings. Pray. They are wobbling off on their training wheels.

Young adult kids - empty nest is easier. Enjoy your spouse. Have good house rules. Those firm lines with love are reliable. Time to grow into making your legacy for your children and grandchildren to be proud of the adult you have raised yourself to be. Seeing your children grow into the gifts God gives them to be. An adventure playing out.

God puts the Scriptures together so marvelously. One more reason to have awe of the Scriptures and not just allow the subtitles to soothe us.

Luke 17
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’

Jesus is saying doing your duty in life will not earn you applause. For the apostles want to throw over the trees. Jesus is saying, their ministry grew because they became willing to follow Jesus in Love. Jesus causes events and circumstance. The disciples attained the above statements of faith from doing the hard, unappreciated work. And yet, God would Never leave a servant unthanked. God would reach out to thank, to appreciate. We innately know this is Father God. Honoring humble service. God is saying the world won't applaud God's service.

How would we feel this? A self esteem that will uphold us enough to pray and to get back to His Work and His Path. Our Relationship to Him. Having confidence in Jesus to let Him be ours.

Expectation of God is important to Him.
He calls that faith.
If we do our duty, knowing He knows - and perhaps say - "Send me!"
We know - He is pleased.

Thank You, Father God, for creating Life and calling Your Creation good. Help us in good times to rejoice. In sad times to walk by faith.

You created each one of to have gifts to contribute to Your Glory. Today we choose to see ourselves as You see us, believing You Believe is us and Your Church.

Help us to love each other as You love us. Forgive us our sins and help us to forgive those who hurt us - as we hope for that forgiveness too. We pray for the up building of the Body of Christ in the Church. We pray for the Joy in the Holy Spirit to Carry Us Forth! And give You great thanks for the blessing of prayer received. And ask those who seek Your comforts are carried in that forever. In Jesus Christ. Amen.


Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

<><