Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1.18-31

Scripture

For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Observation

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

God makes foolish the wisdom of men. We don’t come to know God through wisdom, so He gives us a cross. Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but all God offers is the folly of Christ crucified.

We were not wise by human standards nor powerful. But God chose the lowly and insignificant to challenge the standards of this world.

Application

God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and His weakness is stronger than human strength. Even on His worst day, God is smarter and stronger than any human being- and God doesn’t have bad days!

Some people, even some Christians have problems with considering Jesus as a baby. Often the same people have problems with imagining the Son of God on the cross. They want God to be seen to be all-powerful, stomping on His enemies.

This “stomping” approach is how human beings, fallen and led by the flesh, deal with conflict.

God is bigger, smarter and stronger than that. He shows His power in becoming weak and inviting us to worship Him and to receive His love.

What is the greater victory- to defeat your enemy with weapons or with love? To make your enemy your friend is the greater victory.

When Jesus laid down His life on the cross, He turned many enemies into friends and disciples. The cross is still drawing people into God’s kingdom.

God’s folly is smarter than our wisdom.

Prayer

Father, you have shown your great power and might by laying it down on the cross. Help me Lord to live my life in your wisdom not my own. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1.10-18

Scripture

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.

Observation

Paul appeals to the Corinthians to be in agreement and be united in one mind and purpose. He is shocked by reports of divisions in the church with people claiming to follow Paul, Peter, Apollos or Christ.

Paul wasn’t crucified for their sins so they shouldn’t be following him. They were not baptised into the name of Paul. His role was not to baptise but to proclaim the gospel. The gospel is the power of God to those who believe, but to those who are perishing it is folly.

Application

The gospel is grace- the grace of God. We don’t have to pay the price of our sin because Christ did that for us,

It offends people who think they are good enough for God and therefore do not need a saviour.

It offends those who see religion as a way of controlling God. How do you appease a God who gives up His right to be angry?

It offends those who refuse to believe in the concepts of sin, holiness and judgement.

It offends those who want a life that is tidy, not a saviour who is covered in blood.

It offends those who recognise the implications of the cross. If God has given all for me, then I must give all for Him.

For those who are being saved, the gospel is the power of God. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”

Blessed are those who recognise their sin and receive God’s forgiveness.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for enduring the cross for my salvation. Thank you for coming into my life and setting me free from sin. Amen.

Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15.19-26

Scripture

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Observation

If our hope in Christ is only for this world we are to be pitied. But Christ has been raised from the dead, and His resurrection is the beginning of the resurrection of all His disciples.

Then the end will come . Jesus will hand over the kingdom to His Father, after He has destroyed every power and authority.

When Christ has overcome all these things, even death, then He will be subject to the Father so God may be all in all.

Application

Jesus is alive! This is the wondrous message of Easter Day. The one who was dead is now alive.

Paul tells us that Jesus’ death and resurrection is like a first fruit or an opening chapter in the resurrection of all people.

Jesus is destined to rule over every power and authority in the world and then hand it all over to the Father.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the good news of the kingdom. Amen.

Scripture

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he shall also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Observation

The Jewish ancestors were all under the glory cloud and all passed through the sea, being baptised into Moses. They drank from the rock that followed them and that rock was Christ.

The lives of these people were given as examples to us. We must avoid idolatry, sexual immorality and complaining as some of these people did and were punished.

God does not let us be tested beyond our ability to endure, but He also provides a way through the trial.

Application

We often see trials and temptations as negative things designed to trip us up. The Old Testament saints were tempted in many ways and often failed and were subsequently punished.

God allows us to be tested to take us deeper into Him. Temptation can be a cause for deeper trust, not just an undermining force.

As christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, we are not condemned to sin. No, our destiny should be to overcome sin as we are increasingly transformed into the image of Christ,

We must learn to recognise temptation and our unique individual weak points. When temptation comes, and it will, we should be so aware of our dependence on the Lord that our eyes are on Jesus and not the source of sin. As we learn to do this, we learn to overcome in every test.

Prayer

Help me Father to discern the weaknesses of my heart and to trust in your strength to stand firm against temptation. Amen.

Scripture

Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

Observation

We have a body that has many parts but is just one body. In the same way, the church is made of many different kinds of people baptised into it and united by the one Spirit.

If a human body was all one part, it would be less for that. In fact it would not work at all. If the body were just an eye, it could not hear or smell.

In the same way every part of the Body of Christ, every member, is essential to it.

God appoints different roles and responsibilities to different individuals, but we are all parts of the same Body, put there by God.

Application

There are no unnecessary people in God’s church. We are all needed.

Sometimes it’s hard to work out where we fit, and it might even feel like we don’t fit at all. Yet, the Bible tells us we have a part to play in God’s mission in the world.

Equally we should not envy the gifts or ministries of other people, as if they are more important than we are.

Our bodies work because ultimately every part takes its cue from the head. The Body of Christ works best when every part takes its orders from the head, that is Christ.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to hear your voice so that I can understand who I am in you and where I best serve you in your Body. Amen.

Scripture

All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Observation

Our confession about Jesus is a spiritual activity. Any time a person confesses that Jesus is Lord they are being led by the Holy Spirit. Nobody who curses Jesus is being directed by the Spirit.

There are various gifts and services but just one Spirit. We all may have a manifestation of the Spirit at any time for the good of all.

There are words of wisdom and knowledge, faith and healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. All this is by the Spirit of God.

Application

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by the Spirit to glorify Jesus. They are not given to glorify individuals.

These gifts are available to all believers. Because it is the Spirit who gives these gifts, we all have the potential to manifest the gifts from time to time.

The key to this is being open to the Holy Spirit. Our focus should always be on Him. The Lord will direct us if we are listening and are willing to obey.

Prayer

Holy Spirit be released through me. Teach me how to hear your voice and engage in your ministry. Amen.

Picture from deviantart by Xiphos71

Scripture

I passed on to you what was most important and what was passed on to me: Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said. He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day just as the Scriptures said.

Observation
The Good News will save us if we continue to believe it. The Good News is that Christ died for our sins and on the third day He was raised to life. All of this was predicted in the Scriptures.

The risen Lord was seen on many occasions. On one occasion 500 people saw Him at once. Finally Paul also saw Him.

Application
Christ died for my sins, but His death is not the last word. On the third day after His death He was raised from the dead and appeared to many of His followers.

Many religious leaders have lived and died, but only one left His burial place and continues to live.

Christ has defeated sin and death. Now we can be sure that we will live for ever if we hold fast to Him.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ in your death you defeated death, and now I know I will live with you for ever. Thank you! Amen.