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?

Peace, Good Fear and Comfort

Peace, Good Fear and Comfort

Acts 9 ³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

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Stressed out, I worked all night. Not once did I have time for prayer because the project was due the next day. I feared losing the account even though I was not the account manager. I worked in yesterday’s clothes and ate candy bars from the vending machine top get the work done.

• There were times when I was thoroughly stressed out.
• There were times when I was filled with unhealthy fear.
• There were times when I had no comfort because I was stressed and fearful.

When Saul stopped complaining about the true church people and turned away from his persecution, the people of the LORD had peace. They were probably amazed at the transformation of this huge opposition and feared GOD.

• GOD wants to give me peace but on HIS terms.
• GOD wants me to fear not doing what HE says more than fearing what humans think of me.
• GOD wants to give me comfort but only through belief in JESUS, who sends me the COMFORTER, namely the HOLY SPIRIT.

Peace and comfort cannot be obtained for long without fear of the LORD. I mean I may try to have a moment of peace through some addiction which only brings temporary pleasure. BUT GOD fortifies my heart, removing the sludge and filling it with HIS SPIRIT.

GOD loves. GOD cares. GOD knows. HE sees everything I get myself into and wants me to surrender my life to HIM rather than keep trying to fix it using human methods that bring only marginal to zero results. I am thankful for GOD’s peace, love and comfort. In HIM I fear.

• Do you want peace but are not finding it in the addictions you are pursuing?
• Are you ignoring GOD in fear of yourself?
• Will you surrender your life to GOD so HE can give you peace that withstands life’s pressures and comforts you in the middle of storms?

Learning

Learning

John 6: ⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said to them,  “Do not murmur among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. ⁴⁶ Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.

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Bored to tears, I studied the lesson given in history class. The only way I could get through it was to memorize the dates, names and places I thought were going to be on the test. But in my computer class it was different. I was fascinated with technology and asked more and more questions.

• When I was interested I seemed to learn more.
• When I was excited I seemed to be able to pay attention more.
• When I was fascinated I seemed to be willing to understand the information no matter how complex it was.

JESUS confronts the Jews who questioned HIS origin. Though HE fed thousands, they could not understand why HE claimed to be GOD by saying “I AM the bread of life.” JESUS explains something important. “No one can come ME unless the FATHER draws that person.”

• GOD says to me “I will give people the urge to follow JESUS.”
• GOD says to me “I will put your name in the Lambs Book of Life.”
• GOD says to me “I chose you before I made the foundations of the world.”

This complicated relationship with JESUS is easy for those who believe in HIM. The FATHER cleared the path for anyone to learn about HIS SON so they could believe. Those who listen to HIS lessons of love will be drawn to learn more and more.

GOD never forces the lessons, but knows who will reject HIS love. HE teaches lessons every day. All I have to do is open my eyes and learn of HIM because HE is meek and lowly at heart. I shall find rest, for HIS burdens are light.

• What lessons are you learning?
• What are you spending your time studying?
• Will you take some time out of your busy life to study who GOD really is so HE can give your life a great purpose?

Being Taught by the Best

Jeremiah 16: ¹⁹ Lord, my strength and my fortress,

    my refuge in time of distress,
to you the nations will come
    from the ends of the earth and say,
“Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods,
    worthless idols that did them no good.
²⁰ Do people make their own gods?
    Yes, but they are not gods!”

²¹ “Therefore I will teach them—
    this time I will teach them
    my power and might.
Then they will know
    that my name is the Lord.

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In all of my schooling, I ran into only a few people who taught me well. I mean they understood my learning style and catered towards it in a fashion where I comprehended the information thoroughly. I forgot more information from traditional methods and remembered more during experiential demonstrations.

• I seem to learn best when I go through something.
• I tend to learn my lesson when I experience the matter at hand.
• I need to apply the lesson in order for me to remember the lesson.

Life has some extremely difficult lessons and some wonderful lessons. The lows and highs bring me to a greater understanding that I need something more than my own wits. I need an instructor who understands me and the way I learn, but who?

• GOD says HE will be “My strength and my fortress.”
• GOD says HE will be “My refuge in time of distress.”
• GOD says HE will be “My teacher of HIS power and HIS might.”

Difficult times need a wonderful instructor. GOD has sustained me through many trials and has shown HIS might in time of distress. HIS strength is my fortress and I need not make my own god that cannot save me. GOD is the only one who holds my rescue, in HIM I place my thorough trust.

• Are you getting a difficult life lesson?
• Do you think you are at the end of your wits?
• Can you allow GOD to show you HIS might?
• Will you let HIM teach you HIS power and HIS might?