Being of Christ

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

BEING OF CHRIST

1 Cor 3:18-23

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."   21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

NIV

We are sort of the conclusion regarding Paul’s comments about their quarreling over who they follow, but not really, for this is Paul, of course, inspired by the Spirit, but still, he has some of the longest thoughts that seem to never come to an end. Nevertheless, He brings us back to that thinking we are wise because we have this degree of that degree, and then of course it is the level of our degrees that matter the most to us. We have heard all that boasting about what degree or how many degrees someone has, and we understand their thinking is futile because God said so. Anytime we think about the standards the world has established we are being foolish. If fact, we should simply be a fool for Christ, which is believing everything about him and what he said, which is all of the holy scriptures. So let us not boast about what men do, what we do as men, but let us boast about Christ for we are in him and he is in us. This kind of life does not require the degrees of the world, nor should we lift up men, but Christ is the only one worthy to be lifted up. This life in Christ only requires our faith in Him. It is not that we should live like a fool, although Paul suggests that if we think we are wise by the standards of this world, we should become a fool so we can become wise. The idea is that living in Christ brings the wisdom of God through the power of the Spirit as he leads us into all truth. In addition, the Spirit manifests all his gifts and his fruit within us so that we may bring glory to God. Paul is making the point that all the wisdom of this world does not bring glory to God, in fact, God shows those who look to the world’s form of wisdom as being futile thinkers. This brings us a question in our minds. Why would someone think that their level of worldly education would be used by God to bring him glory? Of course, we can always study the word of God and even spend years learning about the history of man and his relationship with God. We can also attend seminaries to study God, and to learn more about the original languages to better understand the truth the Spirit leads us into. Studying God is always acceptable because that brings us to the point of exalting and glorifying Him. Yet, if we but come to Christ and allow him to come into us, as he gives us the Spirit of truth, for Jesus is the truth and the light and the life. Whatever we need to know and comprehend about God and our life in Christ, the Spirit will reveal that to us, then we are being of Christ.