Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Opening Scripture

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1:7-10

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and mercy, your protection and provision, your comfort and healing. Help me to trust you in all things and orient my life toward you today. May my mind’s attention and heart’s affection be on you. Guide my choices and direct my decisions for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, Paul expands on his teaching about wisdom, further distinguishing between “earthly wisdom” and “godly wisdom.” Most of the Corinthian Christians were operating based on personal preferences and unsanctified “common sense,” which is insufficient for understanding divine truth. God’s wisdom completely transcends human comprehension apart from the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

Paul affirms those within the Corinthian Church who are “mature.” These followers of Jesus have the spiritual discernment to understand “God’s secret wisdom.” Among these believers, Paul can share “spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”

This “spiritual maturity” may be understood as a manifestation of being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” which enables a person to “test and approve God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). That transformation by the Spirit changes a person’s inner disposition, spiritual insight, and moral character so that the things of God are no longer “foolishness.”

God’s wisdom does not originate from any human structure, and it is not dependent on any human structure. In fact, most people will never comprehend God’s eternal truth. “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

“None of the rulers of this age understood it,” including the Jewish religious leaders who opposed Jesus and “crucified the Lord of glory.”

A spiritually mature person can make right judgments about all sorts of things. However, the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian Christians is exhibited throughout this letter as Paul addresses petty divisions, sexual immorality, legal actions, idolatry, and the misuse of spiritual gifts… all within the congregation.

That’s why Paul starts the next paragraph (which we’ll save for another time) with the statement: “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?”

Dear Lord, may that not be said of us!

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Today’s passage once again beautifully portrays the various functions of the Godhead in our sanctification. Each Person of the Trinity is actively involved in our eternal salvation and spiritual formation. I want to focus today on the final statement: “We have the mind of Christ.”

While we can never know all that God knows, there are definitely some things He wants us to know. Almighty God doesn’t just want us to have a good mind. He wants us to have “the mind of Christ.” Certainly, we must come to know the Lord personally and intimately to cultivate any sort of Christ-like mind.

“The mind of Christ” refers to a Christian’s ability to understand God’s truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit. It involves developing a biblical worldview based on knowledge of Scripture. It includes “divine wisdom” that comes from embracing God’s purpose and perspective. It is a natural expression of praying and living “in Jesus’ name and for His sake.” It is a continual “walking by the Spirit” that results in “thinking like Jesus.”

Paul used this same language in his letter to the Philippians. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). That exhortation comes in the context of Paul’s instruction to believers to be united, “being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

There, he goes on to say, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Clearly, “the mind of Christ” displays humility and selflessness.

Paul continues that passage with the Carmen Christi (the Song of Christ), which celebrates obedience to God’s will, born of love and devotion, and established in an eternal perspective that contextualizes everything.

Are you cultivating the mind of Christ?

Do you see signs of humility, obedience, compassion, eternal perspective, and reliance on the Holy Spirit in your life?

Ask the Father to help you be more like Jesus.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!