I Can Explain It but I Can't Understand It for You

A good friend of mine's father used to say, "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." I think that is one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Mostly because I've felt that way about a hundred times in my life. At work, at home, you name it. You ever tried explaining something to somebody and you can see in their eyes that the lights are on but nobody's home? Yeah, that.

But here's where it gets good. I think God knows exactly how that feels.

Paul wrote it like this in 1 Corinthians 2:14, "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."

Think about that. God has laid out the whole plan. It's right there in black and white. The Gospel is not complicated. Love, grace, forgiveness, salvation, all of it explained as clearly as it can be. And yet some people hear it and think it's nonsense. Not because the message is bad. Because they don't have the spiritual ears to hear it yet.

That's why we can't argue somebody into faith. We can't debate them into the kingdom. We can explain it all day long, but we can't understand it for them. That part is between them and the Holy Spirit. Our job is to plant the seed, live the life, and love them where they are. God handles the rest.

And honestly, that should take a little pressure off of us. You're not failing when somebody doesn't get it. You're just not the Holy Spirit. And last time I checked, that job's already taken.

Y'all have a good weekend now. You hear?

Be Nice. Grace Wins.

FMJ