Depending on God’s Spirit
Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
As we read the Bible, hear it taught, and teach it to others, it’s important to remember that its truths are not natural. They are super natural. That’s what Paul is saying in today’s verse. Those who teach the Word do so not by human wisdom but by the Holy Spirit. It involves “interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual,” which means that in order to understand and know God, we need to be spiritually minded, that is, indwelt, empowered, and enlightened by God’s Spirit.
A couple verses earlier, we read that the Spirit of God is the only one who “comprehends the thoughts of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). Therefore, if we want to understand God’s thoughts, as revealed in his Word, then we should be desperate for his Spirit. Practically speaking, this means we should begin our Bible reading with prayer.
We cannot comprehend God’s Word on our own. When we sit down in a service on a Sunday to hear the Bible taught, or when we read the Bible for ourselves, we are desperate for the Spirit in that moment. Many times, when I preach or teach, I ask God to do things that I don’t even know to ask for, things that I will never even realize that he’s doing, as he takes his Word and applies it to people’s lives. May he do that in each of our lives as we open up his Word.
Prayer and Confession
God, we pray that you would help us to live in dependence on your Spirit all the time. From the moment we wake up in the morning, prompt us to worship and spend time in your Word. Open our eyes by your Spirit to things we can’t see on our own.
Further Reading: Psalm 119:105, Joshua 1:8
