“¶Brothers, do not be children in your thinking; rather in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature……But if anyone remains ignorant about this, he is ignored by God.” 1 Corinthians 14:20, 38 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1co.14.20-38.LSB

Paul is writing to God’s church, people who are committed to following Jesus. These people thought they were godly, for they exhibited many spiritual gifts, which they believed elevated them above most ordinary Christians. Paul rebukes them, for they do not understand the purpose for which God blesses His people with His presence and His gifts. Paul says their thinking is wrong and if that thinking doesn’t change they will be ignored by God even though they practice before others what they believe to be evidence of their godliness. What is their incorrect thinking? God’s presence in our midst and His power in our lives is to glorify Him by building up one another in our most holy faith and winning others to the faith in our midst. God ignores the religious, those who love their religion for what it does for them, how it makes them feel and how it makes them perceived by others, at least in their minds. When God lived among us as one of us, His primary adversary, besides the devil, was the religious leaders. If we want to be on God’s side and desire more of God’s presence in us working through us, we will see ourselves as His servants for building His kingdom upon the earth as it is in heaven through strengthening the church and increasing the number of those who participate in the church.