Listening to God

Jim:

1 Corinthians 2:1-13
In verse 13 Paul writes, “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.” God builds a community through the work of the Holy Spirit, a community with its own language, its own ethic, its own way of understanding life. This community is guided by the Spirit, not by human standards or human precepts. Ultimately, only those who are “spiritual,” who have received God’s Spirit, are capable of understanding the implications of this new community and the gifts that God has given to it through the Spirit.

Mark 1: 29-45
Verse 35 always stands out when I read this passage. “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” Jesus recognized his need to pray and to reflect in private. He needed the chance to hear God’s voice in his life. He needed to be able to separate himself from the cares of the world so that he could better know God’s will. And then he got back to work. If the Son of God needed time to pray and reflect in his life, what does that say about us? It says we must take the time to listen for God’s word as well, so that we may be guided in our living.