Lindy Cofer - I Saw the Lord 3-Day DevotionalSample

CHRIST AND CHRIST CRUCIFIED:

SCRIPTURE:

“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul is bringing us into a foundational truth that is reflected in Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty." He resolved to know nothing while among them... except Jesus Christ (God's power and wisdom, 1:24) and him crucified.

The crucifixion is at the heart of the gospel. It is the greatest display of love in all of human history. Preaching the gospel is not saying edifying phrases and thoughts that are beautifully put together. It is to bear witness to what God has done in Christ for our salvation.

Paul’s claim that he came preaching not in "eloquence or superior wisdom" should be read in light of 1 Corinthians 1:17, which clarifies that he was faithful to Christ’s commission to preach the gospel apart from the values embodied in Roman rhetoric. Which means, PAUL DID NOT GIVE IN TO CULTURAL PRESSURE. His manner of preaching did not conform to a desire to win the approval of his audience, nor was it based on the schemes of human intelligence. They both deplete the effectiveness and power of the cross. It is absolutely crucial that we keep Jesus, who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is going to do, at the center of it all.

In short, Paul’s manner of preaching and way of life were consistent with the message he preached, and He centered them on JESUS. Not his own power, wisdom, or talent.

This is why surrender is the doorway to a life with Jesus. We have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

Reflection Questions:

Does what you say and preach reflect your life?

What does it look like for you today to put Jesus at the center of your whole life?

Where has ‘fear of man' affected your Christian life? In which areas do you feel like you have given into cultural pressure out of fear of man? And how does God want to lead you out of them?

Application:

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