'God you are my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe! That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you are perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing.' Psalm 91
I get scared sometimes that at work I'm not clever enough - to remember everything I need to now to treat patients, to have the right words to talk to other doctors, or the patients. I got very frustrated yesterday because I felt like nobody was talking straight to me. And I felt like if they just told me straight what they problem was - I could have a chance to fix whatever was wrong. Instead of dancing around the subject, or being sarcastic (I struggle to pick out sarcasm sometimes and don't realise what the person is saying is actually the opposite).
Paul kept it simple!
'I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that you life of faith is a response to God's power, not some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.' 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
What matters is not whether we use 'wise and persuasive words' but the 'demonstration of the Spirit's power.' We do not need to dress it up with 'eloquence or superior wisdom'. God 'chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise'. He 'chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong'.
This is why I love Paul's books - simple and straightforward, no messing around - just like me!
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