Boast in the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 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.” ( 1 Corinthians 1)

Thoughts: God chose us, not because we are great, but to show His love.  God rightly doesn't want us to boast.  There are some who think if the smartest, most handsome, prettiest, most athletic become believers then the world will see and be converted.  But here God chooses the lowly, the weak for Himself.  What counts is not our wisdom, but Christ's.  What counts is not our beauty, but the beauty of God coming for us that we might come to Him.  Our ability fades. But God's power lasts. 

Prayer: Lord you are beautiful.  You are wise and highly exalted.  Let me boast in you, for being united to you in love and faith is more important than all my earthly accomplishments.

God's Wisdom not Ours

 17For 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.

18For 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. 19For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^c

20Where 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?21For 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. 22Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1)

Thoughts: Paul is educated, sitting at the feet of Gamaliel one of the greatest theological doctors of the Jewish first century.  Paul was a leader of the Pharisees, and some say he was on the Sanhedrin (leading religious ruling council in the country), or at least in line to get on the Sanhedrin.  Yet he recognizes that what counts in life is not human wisdom- the studies, the rhetoric, the logic, the theology.  Instead what counts is the truth- even if it seems illogical or even foolish.  The proud will always have a hard time humbling their mind before the cross.  The cross is too soft for keepers of the law- indicating that those who do not deserve it can have forgiveness.  The cross is messy and sacrifices don't make sense to those (like the Greeks) who want to earn their way by their wisdom and knowledge to salvation.  But if we are called by God and believe, there is available to us, a power and a wisdom that far exceeds anything we can self-generate on our own or together.  It is a power that can conquer death.  It is a wisdom that is true and right.  We do not rely too much on our own wisdom.  We must rely first and foremost on God's. 

Prayer: Lord, you are wise.  Help me to rely on your wisdom and power.  

Do NOT DIVIDE

10I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^a 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. 11My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas^b ”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1)

Thoughts:  Christ is not divided, and his body should not be divided either.  For basically a thousand years the orthodox church got this.  Today we divide at the drop of a hat.  I heard of a church in Tennessee who divided because one person pealed a potato from back to front and the other said it should be from front to back.  Soon people were choosing sides, and the church divided.  People divide because they believe they have the right belief while others are unorthodox.  Some are progressive and others are conservative- some would rather divide the church than have their idealistic view held down. Some divide over the music.  Others divide over whether they like the pastor or not.  Most use the Bible as justification to divide, and often say that for the peace of the church they must divide.Today there are 33,000 denominations worldwide.  But the Bible gives little if any justification to divide.  Jesus said "the world will know you are my disciples if you show love for one another.. make them one as we are one" (John 13:13; 17:21).   Here Paul criticizes the Corinthian church for its party spirit.  They are rebelling against Christ by choosing sides in their pride instead of working together to love one another.  The church has failed today because we have forgotten the real importance of unity over idealism.  

Prayer: Lord, send your Spirit to make us one as you are one.  

I Corinthians

Today begins a series of short devotions on the Book of 1 Corinthians.  Corinthians is especially relevant today for American culture in the 21st century because of its handling of sexual immorality and divisions in the church.  The church today lives in a culture that feels no shame about sexual immorality and wishes to dispense of all sexual mores.  The church also lives in a very polarizing time. There is a huge difference between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.  Many do not understand each others' point of view.
     I Corinthians was written from Ephesus (cf. 16:8) around 55 AD.  This was about 20 years after Paul's conversion and he was an established missionary having already completed his first three missionary journeys and had written Thessalonians and Galatians.    Paul contrasts God's faithful true love with the fake and fickle love of sexual immorality.

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2To 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:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:1-3)

Thoughts: Paul's authority as an apostle ("sent one") was questioned by the Corinthians.  He affirms this is by "the will of God" not something he did on his own. His co-writer was Sosthenes, perhaps the synagogue ruler (Acts 18:17) who had been converted and beaten.  He writes to believers- the "saints" ("those sanctified").  This letter is meant to be read by many, ("all those who call on the name of our Lord Jesus").  He gives his typical greeting- grace and peace.  Grace teaches us forgiveness and kindness.  Peace teaches us to be patient, flexible, and wait on God.  

Still today, God asks us to listen through His sent one, Paul.  Many of us do not want to listen to any authority from old, or from God  We want to be the arbiters of truth and the determiners of our own destiny.  But truth is, we are not.  We cannot control our own deaths or our own life circumstances.  We need to hear the voice from outside- the voice of God speaking in scripture.

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear.  Give me grace and peace.