“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
Paul was a brilliant teacher and an inspiring writer but apparently was not a compelling speaker. At least that was the opinion of some Corinthian believers. However, he wasn’t offended by that because he wasn’t trying to impress them with his speaking skill; he wanted to plant their faith on the foundation of God’s power.
It is natural to think that eloquence and human wisdom are essential when we tell others about Christ. We certainly want to present Him as well as possible. But no one’s faith is built on someone else’s oratory or intellectual excellence. When we trust Christ our faith rests on God’s power. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that secures us.
As Paul told the Corinthians at the beginning of this letter, “God will keep you strong to the very end. Then you will be without blame on the day our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God is faithful. He has chosen you to share life with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1:8-9). The foundation of our faith is secure. God will keep us strong, God is faithful and God’s power undergirds our faith.
We know that challenges will come and the enemy would want us to fear that we may falter under future pressures. Here is good news. Our faith rests on God’s power and God is faithful. From the day we open our hearts to Christ to the end of our journey we can depend on God’s power to keep us secure.
