In chapter 2 of I Corinthians, Paul’s main topic is that real wisdom ultimately is from God. And so Paul is laying out to us that there is a very distinct difference between the wisdom of man, and the wisdom of God. God’s mind is something that we are intended to spend an eternity learning from...let that idea sit in your head for a few seconds. We serve the omniscient God--THE all-knowing God.

Paul references Isaiah 40.13 in the first part of this verse to show us that we: 1) cannot understand all of the ways of God, and 2) should have no reason to believe that we can teach Him anything. I find that to be so comforting. We are dealing with the God that knows every intricate detail of our inside wiring, the God that knows how many blades of grass are spread out across the entire world and already knows how many there will be in the decades to come. And the most comforting part of it all is that He knows the exact day and time that our Blood-Stained Conquering King, Jesus, will be coming back for His Bride--us, the Church. He has every nitty gritty detail of our life in the palm of His hand, looking at it, and smiling because He knows what good things He has for us coming. It may not seem even remotely true in today’s world--but wow, He just desires us to know, trust, and believe as we press on in this life.

But how do we grow to actually rest in this? Well, Paul says it: Jesus. Jesus promised believers the Holy Spirit, Who has the duty to reveal to us Truth that saves, which is Jesus (John 16.13, John 14.6). The Holy Spirit is called the Helper and the Comforter, and He does this by drawing our minds to the very mind of Christ, and reminding us all that He has done for us and all that He has promised us--teaching us to dwell on the good.

His word is true; His work is sufficient. Dwell on this.

I Corinthians 2.16

16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What does the reference to Isaiah 40.13 mean to us as mere mortal humans? What does it mean that we serve an omniscient God?

+ Why does it matter that “we have the mind of Christ”? How can this transform our daily lives?

+ How does this Scripture help us dwell on the good?

+ What things are always good? [Hint: think in terms of the complete Gospel…]

+ How does dwelling on this good help us press on in life?

+ I am taken back to Joey’s message earlier in July as we went through Numbers. Joey was talking about being before the field, being before the Promised Land of God—will we press on in faith as we dwell on the land of milk and honey? Or, will we fall away in fear of the giants that inhabit the land, despite God’s promises?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Do we find ourselves sinning by trying to teach God how to do our life? Do we think we know better than God does? Remember His omniscience…but more importantly, remember His grace…

+ Even when things in life aren’t good in our eyes, can we still try to dwell on what is actually good?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Are there any brothers or sisters in my life who need to be encouraged by some simple truths of the Good News today? Even just a simple text.