DCLM Daily Manna 17 May 2026: Spiritual Wisdom
Key Verse: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 2:11-15; KJV
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
READ OTHER DCLM DAILY DEVOTIONAL HERE
Scholars, philosophers and theologians have debated the importance of intellectual knowledge and spiritual discernment in human affairs for centuries. The Enlightenment philosophers, notably Jean Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire, expressed faith in human reason to improve society but rejected religion and the truth of revelation. St. Thomas Aquinas, contended that reason and revelation are not mutually exclusive, only that the truth of revelation is superior.
In our text, Apostle Paul contrasted the ‘wisdom of man’ with the ‘wisdom of God’. The central argument is that man’s wisdom is of little importance in preaching the gospel because the Word is spiritually discerned, and the converts are established in the faith because of the power behind the preaching. Hence, Paul told the Corinthian church that his message was not based on philosophy and oratory but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power.
The essence of the Word can only be discerned spiritually. Without divine illumination or revelation, many of the injunctions and commandments in the Bible will appear unrealistic to the intellectual mind. Thankfully, spiritual enlightenment is one of the gifts of the Spirit God has made available for the perfection of the Church.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Profitable Bible reading requires prayerful divine illuminations
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 15-17
DCLM Daily Manna 17 May 2026
