Sometimes we want God to reveal himself the way we want Him to instead of relying on how He chooses to reveal Himself to us. Not unlike some of us, the Jews wanted signs from heaven (God to show His power and so believe in God) and Greeks wanted human wisdom to understand and believe in God. The power of the Holy Spirit does not need our human wisdom (God actually says it won’t be received through human wisdom), persuasive speech, nor cleverness. Just like the example of Paul, we see being a good steward of preaching the simple Good News of the gospel and allowing the Holy Spirit in its wisdom to do its mysterious work in peoples lives (if people are willing to receive) is all that is required.
When I read these verses, it makes sense why Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” -Luke 18:17. Children don’t need things to be complex and proved in their life over and over again to know what is true and real. It’s not gullibility that makes children believe, I think it’s their humble willingness to receive what the Holy Spirit is showing them to be true. This makes it incredibly important for us to know what our children are being taught by others… and important that we are teaching them truth.
“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. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” -1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NLT
“Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.” -1 Corinthians 1:21-22 NLT
-LMM
Scott Maxon 