Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 2:11-16.
For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Paul’s lesson to the Corinthians in this passage is that we have been given God’s spirit and we must encourage everyone to accept His spirit as well. He explains that the human spirit understands only human things, while the spirit of God within us understands spiritual things as Christ taught. “We have the mind of Christ” (v. 16) to instruct our ministry.
Did you pause when reading that and say “I don’t have a ministry”? Whether you see it or not, we all have a ministry of caring for each other. It was how Jesus reached people and through the Holy Spirit we are called to continue His ministry.
Each of us who accept Christ are called to be in ministry to the world, making disciples of all nations according to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). How we do that depends on our gifts, our situation and our discernment from the Lord. Each one’s work for Christ may look different, but our mission is the same.
Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of our savior and the work You give us to continue what He taught. Help us to bring the Good News to everyone. Amen.