Scripture

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Observation

If God destroys the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent (v.19), where does this leave the so-called wise people? God saw to it that the world cannot know Him through human wisdom. The cross, then, is foolish to the Greek and offensive to the Jews. It does not make sense through human reasoning.

To those of us who are being saved, Christ is God’s wisdom and God’s power. God does things the world considers powerless, and uses them to bring glory to his name, and to destroy all the pretentious arguments of the world.

Application

Ever since I was a new baby in Christ, a teenager in a Youth Group, people have thought, “How wonderful it would be if this pop star/ movie icon/ celebrity became a christian! They would have such an influence.” People have been thinking this way for centuries, but it turns out to be wrong.

It is not the conversion of famous people that impresses the world. God’s secret weapon for His Kingdom is the ordinary people, those who are despised by the elites and influencers.

Revivals, awakenings, and other moves of the Holy Spirit are not led by celebrities and the cool crowd. Very few people would seriously check out the gospel just because some mega-star claims to be a christian.

You and I are God’s ambassadors. It is up to us to celebrate God’s gift of salvation and share it with our family and friends. As we do that, God will “bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for saving me through Christ’s death on the cross. This seems to be nonsense to the wise of the world, but it is your power and your wisdom. Amen

Scripture

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction, but we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

Observation

Paul appeals for the Corinthians (and us) to live in harmony. There should be no quarrels amongst christians, and no faction revolving around celebrity pastors.

Christ has not been divided into factions. Nobody has been baptised into the name of Paul or Apollos.

Paul was not commissioned to baptise but to preach the Good News. This he does without clever words, but just with the centrality of the cross. The cross is foolish to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those who are being saved.

Application

It bemuses me the way that so-called “progressives” condemn christians for every form of prejudice and bigotry that can be imagined, but think Muslims are just wonderful and need to have their rights protected, even enhanced.

We hear a lot about Islamophobia, defined as an irrational fear or hatred of Muslims. Christophobia, which is far more prevalent, is never discussed.

Those who claim to hate religion generally hate christianity in particular, while tolerating other religions.

Only one religion in all the world has a cross at the centre, and a crucified saviour at its heart. It is the cross that is offensive above all else.

People like to think that they are OK, and not as bad as some paedophile or mass murderer. They don’t want to know that they are a sinner and need salvation.

The Good News is that Christ has paid the price for son once and for all. We don’t have to make sacrifices or do good deeds to prove to God that we are good enough. In Christ it is all done.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the cross. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay for my sin. Amen.