"But God has given us His Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think. That's also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us." (1 Corinthians 2:12)
Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12
My lovely daughter Emma is three years old. But she thinks she knows more than me. She has already a "formed" opinion about things. She thinks that when we are at an intersection that has traffic lights, it doesn't matter which side of the intersection has a green light as long as there is a green light anyone can go. I tried to educate her but she would not change her mind. In fact she was frustrated at why I would not drive through an intersection one day. I explained to her that the traffic light on our side was red and it meant stop. "But dad", she insisted, "the other side has green and green means go." This argument between us went on and on. (Although it is strange to argue with a cute little thing strapped to a cute little car seat.) Herein lies the post-modern delimma about the logic behind living a supernatural-centered life. The logic is quite different from our natural materialistic-oriented world. Why is it important? If we want to live life where we experience wholeness, completeness, and satisfaction then it does matter if we subscribe to a thinking that is common sense to this human world... or if we subscribe to a different common sense... a logic that is deeper or beyond the reasonings and thoughts of our human mind. In 1 Corithians 2:1-12 the apostle Paul does something very novel. He explains that the logic or "wisdom" of our Christian daily walk is NOT of this world. All the philosophy, theology, and doctrine cannot and will not grasp the logic or "wisdom" of the supernatural. What does that tell us? Not that we should abandon the love of wisdom (philosophy) or the study of the supernatural (theology) or the refinement of our value system (doctrine). But we should not kid ourselves. The key to our Christian walk each day is not a set of beliefs, or a systematic way of thinking. This is the logic of the world. We don't live the supernatural mind by practicing a theology or by living the logic of a philosophy. It is interesting that as Paul talks about the supernatural mind he introduces another Greek word: "spirit". In the biblical point of view "spirit" and "breath" are the same. It is the "breath" of a present Jesus each day that gives us the logic and the wisdom of the Christian life. The basis of how we live each day is not the logic of philosophy, theology, and doctrine. It is the logic of revelation... the voice of intimacy... the experience of deep relationship. In other words: we get wisdom and knowledge from the experience of an intimate and active relationship with Jesus. I started this meditation thinking Emma was like me and I was like God. That Emma's logic is what human logic is like to God. The truth is that Emma was like God and I was like me... the logical rational human being. (Aaah from the mouth of babes... the Lord speaks.) My 3-year old's logic doesn't make sense... just like God's logic doesn't make sense. This is why the supernatural requires deep intimacy where the "breath" of God... His spirit... is dearest to me. Only then in this environment of deep love and devotion can my faith and trust in Him flower and grow into a logical and coherent philosophy... a deep-rooted theology. In living a supernatural life, our logic is a rationale fueled by an intimate trust and faith springing from an intimate experience of a total, deep, and commited relationship with Jesus himself. In this world little Emma is right... I see a green light... I go... Jesus I trust you!
"Lord I struggle with following your voice in my heart because a lot of times it doesn't make sense to me. But it does to you. I want to walk with you and be with you... I don't want anything to hold me back. So Jesus out of this love I step out in faith and trust you... that you have your ways... and that is what matters to me. Amen."
