"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.' --but God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he can not understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:6-14).

When I give my students a creative writing assignment, I always try to supply the experience to go with the assignment, or make sure it is something they have experienced. It is nearly impossible to write something of value without an experience out of which to respond. The same is true of spiritual things. When I was a child, we recited the Apostle's Creed every Sunday in church, but I never really believed in the Holy Ghost until He moved within me and gave me a new baptism beyond the one with water. I could not respond to His gifts until I could respond to Him. Some things you don't believe until you see them with your own eyes. Some things you can't understand until they happen to you.

"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 man's wisdom, but on God's power" (I Cor. 2:4-5); "My purpose it that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:2-3); "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously and without finding fault, and it will be given to him, but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt" (James 1:5-6a).

In I Kings 10:6-7, the Queen of Sheba says to Solomon, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even the half was told to me." We are no different than the Queen of Sheba. We can read all about God, we can know all about Jesus Christ, we can meditate on the claims of the Holy Spirit, but until we meet Him in person, we can not understand; and when we do meet Him in person, we realise that "not even the half was told."

My Precious Lord, thank You for Your revelation to the spirit of mankind.  Even in knowing You, I know that not even the half has been told, not even the half has been discovered, not even the half has been felt. Keep me open and attuned to Your ways, O Lord, and grant me heavenly wisdom. Amen