Devo July 16 1 Corinthians

¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? 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 miraculous 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 man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

²⁶Brothers, 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. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It 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.³¹Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

REFLECTION

1. In the first chapter, Paul expressed thanks for the Corinthian believers, but warned against divisions within the church which reflect human foolishness rather than the wisdom of the Cross.
2. The Corinthian Christians boasted in (bragged about) worldly wisdom and those who taught it. They also felt intellectually and spiritually superior to others. How does the message of the cross destroy all such boasting (vv. 18-25)? What had they forgotten about their past and the reason God chose them (vv. 26-29)? What does it mean to “boast in the Lord” (vv. 30-31)?
3. As you reflect on your own past, what reasons do you have for being humble rather than proud? How can genuine humility promote unity in your church or cell group?

As I reflected upon this passage, I had been proud over so many things in the past when I was a younger believer.  Today, I reflected on things that I highly value in life and I am humbled to see God graciously provided for me.  I cannot say that the valuable things in life are obtained by my own wisdom and effort.

Having a community of believers that loves one another and challenging one another to grow is a great gift from God.  I am reminded not to lean on my own efforts and wisdom in facilitating this community.  After all, a community of faith belongs to God.  Let's boast of what God has done in our lives.