Valuing the Gift

 

Valuing the Gift

1 Corinthians 2: ¹³ So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit. ¹⁴ Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis. ¹⁵ Whoever has the Spirit, however, is able to judge the value of everything, but no one is able to judge him. ¹⁶ As the scripture says,

 

“Who knows the mind of the Lord?
    Who is able to give him advice?”

 

We, however, have the mind of Christ.

 

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As the expert spoke to me about the car, all I could hear was “Don’t do this and don’t do that” or “Do this and do that.” I just wanted the car. After driving it for a while. Stuff started going wrong. The engine began overheating and the oil light came on. It cost a lot to get it fixed. I did not value the gift of experience he was trying to impart on me.

 

• Many times I did not value words from a gifted person.
• Many times I did not value the gift of wisdom because I was impatient.
• Many times I did not value experience because I just wanted the thing “I” thought was valuable.

 

Paul speaks candidly about spiritual truths. These words are wasted on those who do not value JESUS, rather they focus on human wisdom. Such a person does not understand the words of the SPIRIT because those words can only be valued on a spiritual level. The SPIRIT provides gifts that can only be received by those who believe in JESUS, who gives the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

• GOD says that I am able to judge the value of everything because I believe in JESUS.
• GOD says that I am able to receive the gifts HE has for me because I believe in JESUS.
• GOD says that I am able to teach HIS words because I believe in JESUS.

 

Human wisdom looks at the Word of GOD as nonsense. I mean, GOD can be explained away by human observation. After a while, humans become blind and depend only on what can be seen. BUT GOD blesses those who place their faith in HIM, especially when it does not make sense.

 

“Who knows the mind of the LORD?” “Who is able to give HIM advice?” No one. I am grateful GOD has accepted me into HIS family, placed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me and has given me the “mind of CHRIST” so I can receive the gifts of the SPIRIT.

 

1. Do you see all situations through your own wisdom or lusts?
2. Are you worried because of what you cannot see or control?
3. Will you quiet down and ask GOD to open your heart to HIS spiritual truths so the HOLY SPIRIT can enter and teach you gifts that are unimaginable today?

The Truth

The Truth

John 18: ³⁷ Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

³⁸ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

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“Omit that” was the advice of those who caused the problem. I had to speak to the crowd and explain there was a problem. I gathered input from the team that caused the problem and they wanted me to say there was a problem without saying there was a problem. After careful dissection, I came up with “a” truth.

• In this instance I had to convince people that things were not as bad as they seemed.
• In this instance I had to omit pieces of “the truth” so the crowd would not turn against me.
• In this instance I had to put a “spin” on what was going on so a riot would not happen.

Pilate asked JESUS again, “You are a king then?” JESUS answered “You say rightly that I AM a KING.” HE also explains why HE is KING. HE came to bear witness to “the truth.” Pilate, being a politician, scoffs “What is the truth?”

• JESUS wants me to know HE is the way, the truth and the life.
• JESUS wants me to know HIS word is the only truth.
• JESUS wants me to know HE has already saved me and forgiven me for ALL my sins.

Truth is hard to find. I mean ads can say “world’s best” without checking if that is true to everyone. “A” truth can be told to friends who want to believe speculative words. BUT GOD cuts through all of the deception.

JESUS saw mankind was doomed to eternal destruction. HE volunteered to become a human so HE could live a sinless life. HE was blamed by HIS creation, and murdered by those who lied by omission. HE was raised from the dead to be placed over everything. HE is building a place for believers in HIM and will return someday soon to destroy this world. This is the only truth I believe, all else fails.

• What do you believe?
• Do you think humans have proven things GOD cannot handle?
• Will you stop looking with your worldly, “prove it”, eyes and start believing JESUS is the only answer?

Hearing the Truth

Hearing the Truth

John 18: ¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

²² And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

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“Your car is dying” were the words I could not accept. “Maybe I have more life than expected” I thought to myself. I did not have money to buy a car, nor fix the one I had. I drove on my occasional trip that would take about two hours, but this time it took eight. The car kept breaking down on the side of the road. I had to accept the truth.

• Sometimes I don’t want to hear no more bad news.
• Sometimes I don’t want to face life’s challenges.
• Sometimes I don’t want to accept the obvious answer to a huge problem.

Annas, a high priest, asked JESUS about what HE taught. He was trying to get JESUS to confess to heresy. The tense situation was magnified when one of the soldiers struck JESUS. This soldier did not want to hear the truth that JESUS spoke, nor did the church leader.

Accepting JESUS means accepting HE is the truth. Being GOD, HE knew the decree of the FATHER,  that if anyone sins, they deserve eternal separation from HIM. JESUS volunteered to be the sacrifice that would redeem those who sinned and believe HE did this for them.

Unfortunately, JESUS has become a figurehead to a club of people who do nice things in the name of the brand of church they attend. Yes, JESUS is mentioned, sometimes in the right context. BUT GOD can see through humans down to the heart. HE wants me to speak HIS truth of redemption through HIS SON and that is it. I accept the truth of GOD.

• Are you wrestling with finding the “truth?”
• Do you think sinful humans have found the truth for which you would base your life on?
• Will you allow GOD to turn your heart to HIM so HE can speak the truth through you today?