“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” 1 Corinthians 2:3
Dear Ones:
In the book of Isaiah, he addresses man’s approach to God, and God’s acceptance of that man: “…but to this man I will look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.” (66:2) When we read these passages concerning “trembling,” of what does Scripture speak? Is God speaking of the fear of man, or fear for one’s life? Or is there a meaning that we often overlook in our perception of the word of God, and the Almighty God of the word? Paul even writes in his letter to the believers at Philippi, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (2:12) Again, of what does He speak? He is actually revealing basic attitudes of mind and heart of His “preachers,” of all believers who would be His witnesses. In the context of these three examples of “trembling” before God, it is very apparent that the believer’s perspective, vision, and grasp of WHO God truly is, is very significant. If one is to be effective and faithful in his or her task of proclaiming by their lives, and their mouths, the wondrous works of God, specifically, the great and wonderful truths of the Gospel, then there must be the ever maintained reverence for, and exaltation in the heart, of the Creator and our Redeemer.
There are other characteristics of the effective preacher of the very good and powerful news of the Gospel. The knowledge of the meaning of the Cross is essential. It was Charles Wesley who wrote, “…Let nothing now my heart divide, since with Thee I am crucified, and live to God in Thee.” What does Wesley mean? He is declaring that, by the act of God at the moment of his conversion and new birth, he was crucified WITH Christ in the eyes of God. God did this FOR him. His responsibility is to believe and embrace it as spiritually true, choosing to live in the reality of it. Because he IS crucified, there is to be nothing less than a heart that is clean and wholly the Lord’s. Also, a knowledge of the cross is essential for the preacher to understand and grasp that his expectation and hope is no longer in the “wisdom of men,” men’s traditions and philosophies. The cross stands as the point of deliverance from any trust in and of himself, or in anything, or anyone, other than Christ. All is in Christ, BY the Holy Spirit. Paul would later write: “And my speech and my preaching was NOT with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Cor. 2:4) Because of the work of the cross, and Paul’s understanding and grasp of it, he would trust wholly and reverently, only in Christ.
The last characteristic of this preacher of Christ, whether it be the wife and mother in the home, or the missionary in a foreign land, is this: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (2:2) David would, in essence, declare the same truth about a thousand years before Christ: “I have SET the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:8) Here are two men who understand, and have embraced the meaning of the daily cross. Christ IS their LIFE, their hope, the very singular and entire object of their faith.
Dear Father, open our eyes to understand the daily cross, trusting in Christ and Him alone for all. Then, we shall reverently speak and preach in the power and demonstration of the Spirit. Others will then trust, not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad