Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-30 | 26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Paul then does something no preacher today would ever do. He has shown the wisdom of God’s seemingly foolish plan to suffer and die as a common criminal, by pointing out the way the event of the cross brings life and salvation to believers. This action defied the wisdom of Greek philosophy and Jewish expectation. But then Paul goes too far! He extends this proof of God’s use of ways that seem foolish to include the members chosen for the Corinthian congregation.
Imagine asking your congregation to look at each other and reflect on how undistinguished, underpowered, foolish, weak, low, and despised they are! Risky indeed! But he is being truthful—early Christians were effective disciples because God’s power was active in them, not because of lofty social position or indigenous talents.
Do you sense that Jesus is the source of your life, your wisdom, your goodness, holiness, and salvation?
