June 23 – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Dear Father, we come before You in praise and with thanksgiving for You give us our ‘But God’ moments. You orchestrate our lives for Your glory. May we in our quiet time recognize You for who You are: our Lord God, the God of Israel.
First, do your own quiet time and 4R journaling. When you are completed, come back here for the lesson.
Request God’s help
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Record a verse that stands out to you
Respond to God
But God chose what is foolish to shame the wise
In the face of society both in Jesus’ day and our days now, wisdom, power and knowledge were and are what is elevated to status. Those who did not fit the mold were simply lowly and not good enough, there was no room at the table for them. Even today, there is a ‘class’ of people who are considered ‘less than’. But God. God is the God who sees!
But God moments are interesting. Sometimes those moments elicit one reaction. Sometimes, though as shown in these verses, there are varying responses. Let’s take a look at what’s going on here in Chapter 1.
For the Jews, the cross was a stumbling block. What does that mean? Well, they couldn’t get past the fact that Jesus just wasn’t the warrior they were looking and hoping for. They sought specific signs – God gave them none. And why would He? He had already given them countless signs and wonders and prophecies fulfilled and they still couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see.
For the Greeks, the cross was foolishness. They laughed and mocked the story of a savior who died on a tree. They sought wisdom and Jesus was just too ordinary for them. If they oonnnlly knew!!!!!!
But for those who are saved and washed in grace, the cross is the power of God! To those saved, Jesus IS wisdom. He IS the sign. He IS the power of God. Remember back to verse 18: the cross wins over wisdom… every time!
When we have a ‘but God’ moment, we can only boast of the Lord, nothing about that moment has anything to do with us really and everything to do with God stepping in where we cannot.
So, ya, sometimes our ‘but God’ moments shame the wise, the strong, the powerful, the noble of birth, lest they should boast in themselves. For God is far stronger than the strongest of us humans. So, for God to choose those whom the Jews and Greeks deemed less than speaks volumes to just who God is! Remember, when you are feeling: less than, not enough, worthless, pointless, or the like, God says you are the opposite. God says that you are so much more. He says, you were worth dying for. So, chin up friend, for God chose you to call His own.
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18
(Further Reading: Matthew 11:25; 18:3-4)
Dear Lord, we praise You for You alone formed us, for in Jesus we find Salvation! We thank You for the permanence of grace, that it cannot be ripped from us.
What’s next?
As the Spirit leads, in the comment section below, share what He has laid on your heart.
Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.
My Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;”
