Accept the Person – The Presidential Prayer Team

That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:5

The attitudes and actions of people living in today’s culture can be discouraging. Sadness could become overwhelming if you dwell on the upside-down thinking of some holding office or the moral decline of the general population. But this is not a new occurrence. The apostle Paul faced the same issues in the city of Corinth… extreme paganism, moral degeneracy, and social snobbery.

Paul came to Corinth “in weakness and in fear and much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), referring not so much to physical strength or timidity, but more as a deep concern that the gospel message would find root in this most unpromising of places. He was concerned for the people’s rejection. In his humility, he probably understood his own inadequacy, but he was determined to deliver the message of Christ crucified… only possible in the power of God.

Let it be so for you as well. Your faith in Jesus’ payment for your sins as a believer in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection places the power of the Holy Spirit within you to proclaim this message to those around you. Human persuasive techniques just produce temporary results; only Spirit-led witness of your acceptance of the Person of Christ Jesus as Savior will have a lasting impact.

Rely on the power of God to change hearts. Intercede for those who trust in their own wisdom and strength. Be steadfast in your faith, undergirding it with the knowledge and confidence that come through being in God’s Word. Christ is the ultimate storehouse “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:5

so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Colossians 2:1-15

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ²that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

⁶Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

⁸See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹²having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.