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. — 1 Corinthians 2:12
As Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, the believers there had a problem. They were struggling with the environment around them. If a popular preacher came along, they immediately flocked to him. Let someone else come along who is a smooth teacher, and they immediately flocked to them.
I once read this described as being a “chameleon Christian.” Chameleons are known for being influenced by their surroundings, changing their appearance to whatever the environment is. For the chameleon, it’s a defense mechanism. For the Christian, this is a spiritual danger.
When our faith changes with the environment, we begin to reflect culture more than Christ.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that they had not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God. That distinction matters. The spirit of the world is driven by popularity, influence, comparison, and constant change. The Spirit of God anchors us in truth. He gives discernment. He reveals what has been freely given to us in Christ: grace, identity, security, and wisdom.
When we forget this, we can begin to chase voices instead of truth. We measure our faith by trends rather than by Scripture. We allow culture to dictate what we value, what we pursue, and even what we believe.
The Spirit of God does not call us to blend in. He calls us to stand firm, not in arrogance, but in confidence that what God has given us is sufficient. We do not need to adjust our convictions to match the moment. We need to remain rooted in Christ.
If you feel pulled by shifting voices or pressured by the environment around you, pause and remember this: you have received the Spirit of God. He is not unstable or uncertain. He leads into truth and reminds us of what we already possess in Christ. A challenge to consider today: where might your thinking be influenced more by your surroundings than by the Spirit of God?
About Another Well Ministries
Another Well Ministries exists to help people slow down, listen deeply, and encounter God in the ordinary places of life. Through devotionals, reflections, and spiritual resources, we seek to create space for faith to be formed with honesty, grace, and hope.
To learn more about the heart of the ministry or explore additional resources, visit anotherwell.org.