The Spirit Received to Understand that Given

Those things given by God are not for all to understand, and when not of/for God, understanding of that given by God will not happen.

“¹⁴The 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 (ESV)

This seems a bit odd as wouldn’t it make sense for those that are seeking God to be able to understand Him and that which comes from Him. I have a friend that was open with me in their journey to salvation. Their first encounter with God’s Word was well before their acceptance of His freely given salvation. When picking up the Bible and trying to read, they admitted to me that it seemed to be in a different language and they were fully unable to understand, or even read God’s Word. They were open to exploring God’s gifts and some time later after opening their heart, they picked up God’s Word again and amazingly to them, the same Bible and the same passage were somehow now legible and they were able to begin studying.

“¹¹For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹²Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. ¹³And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” — 1 Corinthians 2:11-13 (ESV)

I can only attribute the understanding of God’s Word for my friend with their opening and acceptance to the Spirit of God that was now within them. Their opening of heart to accept God and all that He is and provides gave them the ability to understand that which is from God, namely in this case His Word.

The example, may seem extreme and somehow far fetched to some, I however fully believe. I know even for me and my family, there are a lot of things that happen or do not happen, that at first glance are difficult to understand, but as I dig in and study God’s Word and open to His and the Spirit’s guidance, they become clear and on a number of occasions lately I or Lori have mentioned that only God could have done or allowed or stopped certain things. Understanding of those things of/from God are only for those that are of/for God.

What things are you having difficulty understanding? Are those things linked to God and Christ? What if you were to open your heart to Him and approach the understanding of them by accepting God and allowing Him to guide your understanding?