For Saturday August 5, 2023

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.

All spelunkers (cave explorers) know the true meaning of “I can’t see a thing.” Above ground, there is always a bit of light coming from somewhere to aid us. But in a cave, once you’re far enough in, there is no light. None. None at all. It is the most complete experience of darkness we can have on earth.

Spiritual darkness is like that. The Bible says that before being born again, we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Spiritually dead means no spiritual life. None. None at all. That means we have no love for or understanding of the things of God “because they are spiritually discerned.” We gain understanding only through the mysterious illuminating work of the Spirit. What believer hasn’t had the “Oh, now I see!” experience in the spiritual life? All have, and will, as the Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of God for which the spiritually dead have no appreciation.

As you read God’s Word today, pray with the psalmist, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).

All of man’s knowledge is based on God’s illuminating truth to the mind.
W. ANDREW HOFFECKER

David Jeremiah, Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions (Tyndale, 2014)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.