What I Left and What I Brought

1 Corinthians 2:1
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:3
I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.

1 Corinthians 2:4
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

1 Corinthians 2:5
so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth that when he decided to visit them he made a decision to take with him som things and leave others behind. What I didn’t bring I didn’t lack, I deliberately left behind. If what I brought looked weak and unimpressive it wasn’t by mistake, it was intentional. What I left and what I brought.

Paul tells them that as I visited you, I intentionally didn’t come with eloquence. I did not focus on public speaking abilities. I did not strive to stand out as an orator. I left eloquence behind.

I intentionally didn’t come with human wisdom. I didn’t cite scholars. I didn’t demonstrate how much Theology I had learnt under Gamaliel. I didn’t expound philosophies and varied schools of thought in varied subjects. I didn’t try to project myself as a master of some human wisdom. I left human wisdom behind.

I also avoided use of wise and persuasive words. Marketing skills I left out. How to persuade people I left out. Science of selling I left out of my things to use and do. I left wise and persuasive words behind when I visited you. I left them behind.

Apostle Paul then expounds on what he brought to them. He tells them that I came with a resolve to know nothing else except Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. That story of God’s grace to sinners is what I chose to bring to you.

I came in weakness, great fear and trembling. I wanted you to see me weak so that you distinguish the power of God from me the weak agent. I wanted you to interact with God’s power. I chose weakness, great fear and trembling so that you do not miss the manifestation of God’s power. That is why I brought weakness, great fear and trembling!

Apostle Paul tells them the reason why I left some things and why I brought some things, was so that your faith may rest on God’s power and not human wisdom. What would confuse you I left behind. What would help you see the power of God I brought to you. What I left and what I brought!

For the sake of Christ, what have you left and what are you taking with you? In order to make it clear that you are a Christian, what have you left and what have you brought? What I left and what I brought!

I left show of power and might. I left the flexing of authority. I left academic accolades. I left my dependence on my tribe and race. I left class discrimination of people. Instead I brought love for everyone. I brought hope in Jesus. I brought humility. So that you would testify that we are one in Christ and God is great to all of us. What I left and what I brought!

I left the philosophy of my dress my choice and i embraced the sensitivity of others. I left my freedom to say anything on social media and chose my words carefully lest I offend others. I left my so called human rights and embraced what was right for a believer. What I left and what i brought!

Grant me wisdom to know what to leave and what to carry along, so that God’s power may be evident to all, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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