27 May 2005

We bring ourselves to the end of chapter 2 or 1 Corinthians.

Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:14-16)

They don't receive them because they could care less about them...they don't want them. What good is mercy, kindness, reconciliation, graciousness and the like if it is not going to "get you someplace" in this world of ours. The gifts of God's Spirit is not the gift of national power or world power or religious power and therefore, they are foolishness. But then, the powers of the world like to pretend that they are gifted by God to do what they do in the way that they do it. No way! The way of the cross - the mind of Christ - is not something the powers of our day can discern. They see the life of the cross and they try to find another way that can sound like God talk but never comes close to the way of the cross. By the power of the Spirit of God we walk into this day assured that our God will teach us and lead us within the mind of Christ.

Connection: It is so important to breathe and take time to consider how contrary is the way of our God in Christ, Jesus, to that of the ways of the political and social powers of the day. Sometimes we need to be still, breathe, and look around with Jesus in mind.

You, O Life Giving Spirit, send us beyond our ways by opening up our eyes to see the gentle Reign of God as it comes to life around and and invites us to step within it borders. By you Power pull us alongside your gracious ways. Amen.