For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:18-31
There is an old saying – You can’t make something out of nothing. Except God. He made everything from the smallest single-cell life form to the largest whale in the ocean. And He has never stopped creating. His power gives where there is naught.
Strength to the weak
Knowledge to the unlearned
Wisdom to the foolish
Hope to the forlorn
Redemption to the sinner
Influence to the disenfranchised
Identity to the forgotten
Honor to the lowly
Acceptance to the despised
A message to the silent
Holiness to the defiled
Righteousness to the wicked
Nothing survives in a vacuum. We are all empty shells save for what He has instills in us. All good things come from above.
Ramblings features quotes from the Search for God study materials and discussion by the Search for God group in Columbus, Ohio.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Ramblings on What We Share: Unity
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. I Corinthians 1:10-17
Schisms have plagued the church since the first century. In some ways it is a comfort to know that even the Apostle Paul’s ministry struggled with it, but yet distressing that we have failed so miserably to foster the unity that Jesus prayed for.
Divisions happen when we get our minds off of God and onto men. We cling to the one who brought us to Chris rather than to the One they brought us to. We cherish the person who baptized us rather than the One in whose name we were baptized. We forsake the fellowship of our dear brothers and sisters because they interpret Scripture differently and eventually convince ourselves that they are not saved at all. Who are we to decide, amongst those for whom Jesus died, which ones He is allowed to save?
Schisms have plagued the church since the first century. In some ways it is a comfort to know that even the Apostle Paul’s ministry struggled with it, but yet distressing that we have failed so miserably to foster the unity that Jesus prayed for.
Divisions happen when we get our minds off of God and onto men. We cling to the one who brought us to Chris rather than to the One they brought us to. We cherish the person who baptized us rather than the One in whose name we were baptized. We forsake the fellowship of our dear brothers and sisters because they interpret Scripture differently and eventually convince ourselves that they are not saved at all. Who are we to decide, amongst those for whom Jesus died, which ones He is allowed to save?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Ramblings on What We Share: By Proxy
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Corinthians 1:4-9
Gratitude for God’s blessings on those we love is unending. There is no quicker way to a person’s soul than through those they love. Afflictions endured by loved ones or threats to their health or safety hits at the innermost place of even the hardest, meanest and evil person.
How much more joyous is it, then, when someone acts to heal or protect our loved ones? And no one does it like God does. In addition, He shows them His grace –or favor – by reaching out to them and bringing them into all His purposes and plans for their lives. He touches and sanctifies every part of them, including their speech and their understanding of the world. His gifts towards them are lavish and make them strong and pure. And He never stops blessing them, but faithfully nurtures as long as they hold breath.
Gratitude for God’s blessings on those we love is unending. There is no quicker way to a person’s soul than through those they love. Afflictions endured by loved ones or threats to their health or safety hits at the innermost place of even the hardest, meanest and evil person.
How much more joyous is it, then, when someone acts to heal or protect our loved ones? And no one does it like God does. In addition, He shows them His grace –or favor – by reaching out to them and bringing them into all His purposes and plans for their lives. He touches and sanctifies every part of them, including their speech and their understanding of the world. His gifts towards them are lavish and make them strong and pure. And He never stops blessing them, but faithfully nurtures as long as they hold breath.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Ramblings on What We Share: Holiness
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 1:1-3
Holiness is the seal of quality affixed to those who accept Christ's brand of ownership. As a winemaker carefully chooses fine grapes that he believes has the potential to make fine wine, so God has chosen each of us for the potential He sees inside of us. Yet one grape alone does not make wine. God has chosen a people collectively to receive His seal of holiness.
Not only have we been chosen, but we also choose. Our choice is made when we pray to Jesus. Accepting Jesus is to accept Him as LORD (Yahweh), God of Heaven and Master of our souls. For those blessed enough be be chosen, branded, holy people of prayer and obedience will find grace and peace that can only come to those who belong to Him.
Holiness is the seal of quality affixed to those who accept Christ's brand of ownership. As a winemaker carefully chooses fine grapes that he believes has the potential to make fine wine, so God has chosen each of us for the potential He sees inside of us. Yet one grape alone does not make wine. God has chosen a people collectively to receive His seal of holiness.
Not only have we been chosen, but we also choose. Our choice is made when we pray to Jesus. Accepting Jesus is to accept Him as LORD (Yahweh), God of Heaven and Master of our souls. For those blessed enough be be chosen, branded, holy people of prayer and obedience will find grace and peace that can only come to those who belong to Him.
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