1 Corinthians 2:12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Yesterday we learned that we receive the Holy Spirit upon belief that Jesus died for our sins and His forgiveness of our sins. Today’s verse takes us into 1 Corinthians where we learn from Paul that Christians receive the Spirit from God, not a spirit of the world.
But what IS the spirit of the world? It refers to the attitudes, philosophies, and values that are contrary to God’s ways. It is the influence of the secular world. We most often see this characterized as selfishness and materialism or anything that opposes God. That is not the spirit we have any longer. Instead, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and we are able to understand the spiritual truths He has given us and opens our eyes to.
The role of the Spirit in us is to reveal and make known to us the spiritual truths that we are given through the grace of God. We cannot understand things like righteousness, holiness, and eternal life without the Spirit’s help. Our human minds and worldly wisdom just can’t comprehend it. But we were blessed with the Spirit Who is there to help us discern truth and revelation.
And this revelation and illumination is a gift! A gift from a Father Who loves each and every one of us and wants us to live holy and righteous lives. The Spirit within us never leaves – He is always with us, always helping us. The question is whether we are listening and obeying the guidance He offers. And this process of continuous revelation is ongoing. We will never fully know God and His ways while we are on earth. But the Spirit will continue to open our eyes to the spiritual truths of God as we progress through life.
Take a few moments today to evaluate your own life. Are you living by the spirit of the world or are you listening to the Holy Spirit within you? The spirit of the world holds no power over your life any longer. Let the Spirit open your eyes to new and wonderful truths today.
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