June 30
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DETERMINED TO KNOW NOTHING EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST
And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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In this letter, Paul shows us how to live the life of a believer. He reminds the believers in Corinth of how he brought the gospel to them. He said that when he came to preach the Good News, he didn’t use eloquent words to show his wisdom, but proclaimed God’s testimony. In Paul’s days, there were so much focus on knowledge and wisdom. Though we know that Paul’s background as a Pharisee exemplifies him to be very knowledgeable in the Torah he didn’t use Because the Lord Jesus Christ transformed Paul from a worldly powerful man, to a humble servant of God, he couldn’t continue to use his knowledge the way he used to when he was a Pharisee. In verse 2, Paul’s determination to shift his focus from the world and remove everything that is not going to give God the glory and pursue the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. His persistence to focus his entire life in the quest to know Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross is astounding. How many believers can follow this passion for knowing God?
In verse 3, he reminds the Corinthian church of how he was one with them in weakness, fear and trembling because they were relying on the Lord alone. He didn’t use persuasive speech but allowed the Holy Spirit to use him to say the right words that God alone provides. Paul knows that the world uses knowledge and wisdom to attract attention to themselves and he would have nothing to with those ways.
In our world today, human knowledge and wisdom becomes like modern day idols. We want to know things so that people can look up to us and we can feel important. This is not the way of the Lord. In God’s economy, we rely on God’s power and wisdom and strength. We present the gospel only in the way that is true and right. This is why we have been given Scriptures so that we won’t get waylaid in our Christian walk towards eternity.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience how your passion to know Christ have led you to truth.