A letter from Paul to the church in Corinth...
1-2 You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who He is; then Jesus and what He did – Jesus crucified.
3-5 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate – I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it – and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Questions for Reflection:
Do you ever find yourself being “afraid” or cautious to talk to others about Jesus because you may not have the “perfect” words? Or that you are not “theological” enough? How does this passage from Paul help give you freedom to just be simple and talk like a friend to others? It’s God’s power, not yours, not your fancy or emotional footwork – but it’s God’s power!
What about your relationship with Jesus? Are you hindered because you think you aren’t “lofty” enough – or don’t have enough training? Or that you don’t know the right words to say to Him? Does this give you freedom to break down this wall and simply talk to Him, spend time with Him as a friend, not worrying about what you will “say?”
Prayer of the Week:
My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.
Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)
Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.
I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.
I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!
Amen
