Day 63 - 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Tori's Comments:

"we never give up" Let this be a motto of mine. I don't give up, because I've already won through Christ.

And I hope to never forget that this life is not about me. Every action I do and every word I say should be meant for God's glory, not mine.

Terrie's Comments:
I like the fact that we are to preach the truth of Jesus Christ and the Word of God to everyone.  Those who do not understand it have not had the veil lifted yet and are still blinded by the devil who is their god.  This should give us a clue as to how to pray for those who do not believe yet.  Pray that the veil will be lifted, that the power of the devil will be bound in their lives and they will be able to see our light, which is a reflection of Jesus Christ.  

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 6 - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Terrie's Comments:

I think that so far in this challenge the thing that is being made very clear in my mind is how foolish it is to compare myself to other humans or to seek their approval or agreement.  It seems to me that 1 Corinthians this far is clarifying exactly why the only voice we should be listening to is that of the Holy Spirit.  I think it is beginning to sink in... slowly :-) 


Tori's Comments:

"we have the mind of Christ.." (vs. 16)

That's such a crazy thought....that we are given God's Spirit and thus be "in the know", I guess. 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 5 - 1 Corinthians 2:1-9

2 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,    and no mind has imagined what God has prepared    for those who love him.”

Tori's Comments:

"forget everything except Jesus Christ" (vs. 2) I have had this mindset a couple of times, but I think I should strive for it more often. 

I think when faced with the idea of evangelism we want to leave it to preachers or missionaries because we assume they would "know what to say". But Paul says it differently. We are called to witness to others through our lives, and I can't let fear contain me when Scripture clearly says that it is all God.


Terrie's Comments:

"And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God."

I have heard many ways, read a few books, heard people talk about how to evangelize but what would happen if I simply remembered to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than trying to use clever and persuasive speeches or human wisdom?  

Then in verses 6-7 it goes onto talk about talking among mature believers.  We are not to talk using wisdom that makes sense to the world but in Heavenly wisdom that is based in Jesus Christ.  How often do we talk like the world talks, or reason like the world tries to reason within the walls of our homes or our churches?  How should our talk differ from the world? 

I would rather look foolish to humans than be proven to be foolish by God in the end! 



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!