1 Corinthians 2:13-14 - Crops in; Crops out

Before moving to Iowa twenty-five years ago, I would have thought that "crops in" meant gathering the harvest into barns or silos. And that "crops out" would be planting seed out in the field. It's just the opposite, of course: farmers plant seed in the ground, and at harvest they take the crop out of the field.

Some vocabulary we learn from experience or absorb it from our culture.

My wife has been studying Italian for over two years now. She started out with just some free, online language programs. But she studies now with a tutor who is sharpening her ability to communicate in another language.

Some vocabulary we learn through a school or a tutor.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"13 ...we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means."
(1 Corinthians 2:13–14, New Living Translation)

The "vocabulary" Paul is talking about are the words of scripture. God uses people to help explain the Bible (E.g., the Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:25-38. Jesus at Emmaus, Luke 24:25-32) However, the bare vocabulary of the Bible can be as stirring as reading a dictionary. That's why the Holy Spirt has to "turn on the light bulb," as it were, so the Bible makes sense.

Some vocabulary is only learned when God's Spirit makes it a reality in our lives.

Father, You've given us the true words of the Bible. And no matter how much we understand, there's always a lot more that we don't understand. Open our minds to grasp Your words--not just for our minds, but for our hearts as well. In Jesus' name, Amen.