1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Can you interpret?
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: January 27, 2020 1 Corinthians 2:12-16
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
(Understanding the Text) Paul speaks of judgment here, but I think he is not speaking about judging people so much as ideas. Previously, he was rebuking the Corinthians for arguing about which teacher was better and speaking about how God’s wisdom is different from the world’s wisdom. He was telling them that he didn’t use worldly wisdom to proclaim Jesus to them. Then he spoke of how the Spirit would reveal wisdom to the Corinthians. Essentially, Paul is telling the Corinthians to grow-up, that they are acting like little kids. He speaks of the mature person and the spiritual person synonymously.
Paul promises that through the Spirit we will be able to understand the ideas and words and lessons that God gives us. We will understand spiritual truths. Paul says that these truths are incomprehensible to people who have not accepted Jesus and been given His Spirit. This person is closed to the ideas and truths of God. On the other hand, the person who has received and listened to the Spirit will be able to judge what is from God and what is not. He will be able to separate the good ideas from the bad ones. This is because we have the same mind that is in Christ. However, I do not understand “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” What does it mean that we judge but are not judged by anyone? I am not sure what Paul’s point is when says that we are judged by no one.
(Revelation of God) There is a promise of transformation into the thinking of Christ through the indwelling of the Spirit. The mind of Christ is a way of thinking that puts others first, loves each other, and tries to live in harmony with brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the opposite of what the Corinthians had been doing.
(Application / Prayer) I claim this promise of spiritual discernment and transformation. I want to have Your mind. I ask for the words of Truth that You promise. I want to know the love You have for me. I want to be like You. However, the natural worldly person that I am does not want to love and deal with the problems of others or their lack of intelligence or moral character. I ask for Your sight to love them because I don’t want to love them naturally. I pray to be like You.