Paul wrote a powerful statement in 1 Corinthians 2:5–
that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
What does this verse mean for us as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens? Well, I really like how “to-the-point” this modern translation puts it:
For God intended that your faith not be established on man’s wisdom but by trusting in His almighty power. [1 Corinthians 2:5 TPT]
Okay, so how does this apply to us as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens in our 21st century lives? What does it mean, on a practical level, to trust in God’s “almighty power?” What is His power, anyway? How can we know that our faith is “established” in this power rather than “the wisdom of men?”
Whenever God gives us a commandment, or a biblical principle to follow, we as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens–especially those who grew up in the church–have this subconscious mentality that we need to obey. We need to follow this, we need to do that, we need to eat this, we need to dress like that, we need to listen to this, we need to go to that not go to this…..it’s all about need, need, NEED!
But there’s a huge difference between NEEDING to do something and WANTING to do it.
Let me be upfront with you, right now. For us as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens who grew up in the church, we treat God’s law and His requirements the way we treat homework. We do it not because we WANT to, but because we HAVE to. We go to church because we NEED to; we go to Sabbath School because we NEED to; we do our morning devotions because we NEED to–not because we WANT TO DO THESE THINGS. Or, we just don’t care to do them at all, and our spiritual lives become a disaster.
Why is that this is the true, honest case for so many Adventist youth? One of the answers to that question is found in the verse we’re studying today:
“that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” –[1 Cor. 2:5]
One of the reasons why our spiritual and religious lives seem to feel so burdensome is because we’re putting our faith in the wrong place. Instead of relying on God’s power to help us to WANT to obey and follow Him, we’re relying on “the wisdom of men.” Not just the wisdom of what others say or think about obeying God’s law and standards, but even our OWN wisdom on how to obey.
But, have you ever wondered what God’s power is? There’s a lot of definitions on what is God’s “power.” But I like what Ellen White says about God’s power:
“We can so far comprehend His dealings with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power.”
—Steps To Christ Pg. 106, emphasis added
God’s love, God’s mercy, is UNITED to His power! And it is this power of merciful love that God INTENDED for us to rely on in order to truly obey His law and follow His requirements–not with an attitude of NEEDING to do it, but WANTING to do it! With the power of God’s love in our hearts, obeying Him and following Him is no longer drudging homework, but pure joy.
Don’t you wish to experience that today? To have the great power of God’s merciful love motivating your whole heart to joyfully obey Him and follow Him in every aspect of life? Do you want to stop trying to follow God’s law and requirements in your own wisdom, or the wisdom of others, and trust in His loving power to help you obey? Then just pray:
I’d like to conclude this post with a verse you may meditate on along with the above prayer. It’s a very powerful verse that gives a deep reminder that God’s love is the ONLY power to trust in to help us obey and follow His commandments and standards. Like the verse we studied today, it is also found in 1 Corinthians:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” —[1 Corinthians 13:1-3]
It’s my earnest hope and prayer that we will each fully realize that without God’s love motivating our hearts and our lives, we’re nothing. But with God’s love–His power–ruling within us to help us obey and follow Him, we’re something God can use to accomplish great and mighty things for His glory. Amen! Maranatha!