Knowing Him
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:2-5
Paul the writer of the above passage is famously known for his transformation from Saul to Paul (Acts 9). Paul is writing this letter to be an example for the church in Corinth. Paul was a well-educated man and yet he makes the bold declaration, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That is a major statement. But what does it mean? Paul is not saying that he forgot all that he knew. If so, he wouldn’t be able to write the many letters that he did in the Bible. What he is saying is that his focus has changed. His focus was no longer around what he knew, but around Jesus and His sacrifice for humanity. Paul was a man who expanded territory for the Kingdom of God. The mindset to focus on the only thing that truly matters, is the same mindset we must adopt today as we expand territory. Our faith has to be in God and not what we can say about or do for Him. That is not where the power lies. Faith is built on knowing Him. He must be our focus.
What to Pray:
Father, give me a heart that is consumed with knowing more of you. May you always be my focus. Would you teach me your ways? My desire is to lock eyes with you and to get lost in your gaze. May obedience be my desire, no matter the cost. May others know you through my interactions with you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Prayer of Jabez:
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh [if] that you would bless me [indeed] and enlarge [Expand] my territory, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm [evil] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV, NIV, MSG
Continue your time with God by going through your Daily Encounter Guide and reading through our 15-minute or 30-minute plan.