I need to be a better listener. 1 Corinthians 1

I have a confession to make: I have been reading 1 Corinthians without you.

But that is about to end.

It has been such rich reading, and has even made me squirm a bit, so I don’t want you to miss out. And I’d like to read your comments to my comments, too. So I am starting over and inviting you to join me.

I’ll try to get a bookmark reading chart together in the next few days, but, in the meantime, if you’d like to read 1 & 2 Corinthians with me, we’ll read one chapter a day, starting today with 1 Corinthians 1.

More than one verse really grabbed me, so I am even considering (gasp!) re-thinking SOAP for this read-through. But, until I come up with something better, we’ll stick with it.

So… Here’s what grabbed me

 Scripture:

(I chose three this time. I know, I tell you to just pick one. But these three grabbed me.)

1 Corinthians 1:2

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

 1 Corinthians 1:26

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

 1 Corinthians 1: 30

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God– that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

 Observation:

Don’t rely on worldly wisdom. Don’t rely on worldly stature. Run to Him for wisdom and understanding.

 Application:

I think what God is telling me here is that when we really rely on Him first, He will give us what we need. He will guide us.

I feel stuck in a few spots right now. I feel like I just can’t get into gear and groove as I’d like. I have so many balls in the air and I’m trying to decide which ones to let fall. I want to honor Him and I want to honor my husband and I guess I also want to honor myself, in all honesty.

(Ouch. That hurt.)

I have asked others for advice. But I think what I am hearing here is that I need to listen more closely to Him. Worldly advice can get you some places, but His guidance will take me to the best place.

 Prayer:

Lord, please show me how to listen to you better.

I hear the world’s opinions and advice loud and clear, and it is pushing and pulling and most likely not taking me where you want me to go.

Show me how to listen. Let me hear your voice. Guide me in my next steps, please. I want to follow you, I really do. I know your way will be the better way. Story after story after story in the Bible tells me that.

Please, God, show me. I want to listen.

And thank you for caring enough and loving enough to always reach out, even when I don’t listen. I’m going to try harder to change that.

What about you?

What called out to you in this reading of 1 Corinthians 1?

Or what do you think of what I shared? How do you listen to God?