Sorry my devotionals have been a little scattered recently; I’ve found out that I’ve had diverticulitis, and I had no idea how tired and sick I had been for a while now.  I’ve been getting some treatment for it, and for the first time in a long time, I’m actually starting to feel like myself again.  I hope to actually get back to my proper schedule with my reflections moving forward! 

Today we are reading from 1 Corinthians 4: 18-20:

18 But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

If you remember where we left off with 1 Corinthians, Paul had been talking about the division that had been going on in the church.  Today, we see him get at one of the roots that had been causing this division, arrogance.  We see that some of the folks who were in power we exerting control, not to love, not to point to Jesus, not to be servant leaders. 

But out of arrogance.  And that arrogance leads to talk of the Christian life. But not the actual living of the Christian life. Because when one seeks to actually live the Christian life one will find that is an impossible task apart from the Holy Spirit. 

And if one is walking with the Spirit, truly walking with the Spirit, that will lead to a life of humility and a life of (wait for it), power. The Spirit will not allow us to focus on ourselves, the Spirit will always, over and over again, point us to Jesus.  The Spirit will focus us on Him, His life, His death, and His resurrection.  

When we are pointed away from ourselves and pointed to Him, it is then, and only then, we find the true power that comes from God.  

So, Paul tells us today that the life of Jesus is a life not of talk, but of power, and that is because it is only through the Spirit.  

Today, let’s walk via the Spirit, and let’s find His power, not through talk, but through His Spirit! 

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