MERE MEN

April 25, 2024

 

The great tragedy of life would be to live below your birthright, to miss the highest and best use of your existence. Sadly, most humans do.

THE CORINTHIAN EXAMPLE

In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul gives a stunning passage on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we are believers, God lives in us! We can understand things that only He understands. We can communicate them in Spirit-driven ways. We can literally have the mind of Christ because of His presence in us.

He follows this with a strong rebuke of the Corinthians.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The worst evaluation that could be given of true believers is that they are “walking like mere men.” True believers are Spirit-men. Human, yes, but humans in whom Christ dwells. We have everything we need in us, and our lives are to be lived by trusting Him to live through us … giving us His understanding, supplying us with His character, directing us with His perfect guidance. In this way, Christ is seen and glorified, others are blessed, and we fulfill our destiny and know the highest joy.

HOW DO I KNOW …

… if I’m walking like a mere man? I will respond like a man without God. I will get jealous of others. I will be contentious and create strife. I will not be able to understand the deeper things of God. I will argue and take sides like a child on the playground. I will not be growing spiritually. Small things will be big to me and vice versa.

We were made for so much more. Fearfully and wonderfully made, we were created a little lower than the angels in the image of God. God has gone to extraordinary lengths—even the death of His Son—to conform you to His image. And there is much to do.

If you do not know Christ, cry out to Him in repentance and faith today, asking Him to come and inhabit you. If you are a believer living below your capacity, repent and come humbly to God for cleansing and surrender to His control and leadership.

And don’t delay. There is much at stake.

 

 

 

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