365 Days with God - Day 84: Understanding

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 84, March 14, 2014

Readings: Psalm 84, Exodus 29, Nehemiah 10, 1 Corinthians 2

For we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him"

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10, 12-14)

One of my most common experiences with non-Christians is their disbelief, or lack of understanding, as to why Christians are so insistent on sharing the word of God. "Why does everything have to be about that?" Why can't Christians just do something good for the sake of doing good?"

I think, in many ways, this is the secret wisdom Paul speaks of. Now, certainly, there is a Holy Spirit-led way to share the gospel with people, and there is a bible-thumping, man-led way to share the gospel. They are not one and the same. All you have to do to know is look at the results. When we are led by the Spirit, people are saved through love, compassion and the work of God in their lives. When people are "saved" by human methods, they are coerced, scared and confused.

But we are called to be led by the Spirit, and to share the love of God through the Spirit. Can someone without the Spirit understand this? What's so important about the gospel, anyway? Why does it matter? Why does it have to be a part of everything we do?

I think these are beautiful questions that open the door to amazing possibilities. I believe the gospel is everything - what does it matter if we meet someone's every physical need but ignore the spiritual? At best, they will live 70+ years and then die - eternity lost. We are not fighting for the 70 years, but eternity. We are not only seeking their best on earth, but their best for eternity. That is why the gospel matters so much. That is why we bring the good news with everything we do.

How is the gospel part of your everyday life?