The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:14

When we talk about values and priorities, even with our friends and family, we are often met with a complete lack of comprehension, with utter amazement that anyone could believe something so contrary to “what everybody knows is true.”

After all, their peer group, their favorite TV shows, the Internet echo chambers they go to for advice, their school, and the Artificial Intelligence algorithms (designed to promote the point of view of the programmer), all agree; our godly point of view is folly; except that now they say, “That’s reeDONKulous.”

The scripture verse above explains why this happens. Man in his natural state of rebellion against God is unable to understand the wisdom of God. Such wisdom, revealed by the Spirit of God to His prophets, runs contrary to everything the world, the flesh, and the devil want us to believe. So yeah, it sounds like a contradiction to what they’re used to hearing, because it is!

Many people find that frustrating. It makes some people irrationally angry; they absolutely hate being confronted with what God says. Some actually become violent, and when that happens the world around them quietly approves and snickers, “He sure had that coming!”

One of my teachers long ago very kindly pointed out that “When you throw a stone at a pack of dogs, the one that yelps the loudest is the one you hit.” That reaction of mockery, anger, or even violence is evidence that God’s Word has struck home. It has awakened their conscience and that’s a painful experience.

Pray for God’s Spirit to break through that defensive reaction. A fundamental change, a new birth is ultimately needed so that the heart can begin to see things God’s way.

Lord, I pray that my own heart will grasp the wisdom You impart by Your Word. The world around us teaches us to reject Your Word and swallow lies. Have mercy on this generation! Turn on the lights for us, in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles