God's Eye View
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But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's Spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
-- 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12 (NLT)
"Prepare them for transition." What did God mean? Each time, my husband Don and I attended our denomination's annual conference, God showed us the next steps to help our church-in-renewal grow. God spoke to us separately, and when we talked afterward, He had told us the same thing.
That year, God surprised us. Our micro-church of seniors had worked hard but resisted growth beyond thirty people. Don shared what they needed for healthy growth. "Let's replace the picture of Jesus with a Cross because our visitors aren't all white."
"But, pastor," our church's matriarch stated, "That portrait came from our original church building downtown." This museum piece of Jesus overlooked our congregation. They left downtown during the 1960s segregation, relocating outside city limits. A white Jesus portrait epitomized their culture's angst. "It stays."
Don later recommended getting a dumpster for the church's trash, replacing the pews with chairs, and preparing the church for growth. They couldn't grasp what God showed us.
God peeled their fingers loose of the earlier church leaders' deeds without a pastor. This faithful remnant prayed for its revival. God's message to prepare them for transition was to close the church. We helped them grow spiritually for God's next steps for each one, and God called us to a church far away.
Another church bought the property and made the improvements God had shown us. When we retrieved our remaining items from the garage, we noticed a dumpster beside it. The new pastor invited us inside. In the sanctuary, a cross hung in place of Jesus' picture, and they had plans to replace the pews with chairs to facilitate their rapid growth. They did what God showed us, but our members refused to do it.
Unlike our small church, which mistakenly followed its culture's wisdom, Paul instructed the Corinthian church to follow God's wisdom. Corinth, a bustling seacoast city, was a religious mosaic. In 1 Corinthians 2, this fledgling church learned that God's wisdom is greater than their culture's "wisdom." They must forego conventional thought to get a God's eye view—spiritual awareness—of what God wanted for them. The Holy Spirit would give them "the mind of Christ" if they would seek Him for wisdom.
People's personal beliefs often drive culture's "wisdom," differing from God's. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to see issues from God's viewpoint, which is vital to growing and thriving as Christ-followers. God invites us to see His truth. The indwelling Holy Spirit, whom Jesus told the disciples about in John 15:26-27, reveals God's wisdom to guide us. Spiritual awareness comes from God, not our culture. He gives us spiritual eyes to see His truth when we focus on Him by communing with Him through Bible reflection and prayer.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Do you hold on tightly to what you or others think rather than seek God's plan for you?
2. Do others insist on their so-called truth, or do you seek God's wisdom through prayer and Bible meditation?
