1 Corinthians 1:26-31

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For consider your calling, brothers and sisters.  Not many are wise according to the flesh.  Not many are powerful.  Not many are born into a good status.  But God chose the foolishness of the world in order that He should disgrace the wisdom.  And God chose the weak of the world in order that He should disgrace the strength.  And God chose those born with low status and the ones who have been despised because of their worth – even the ones who are nothing – in order to render insignificant the power of the ones who are so that all flesh should not boast before God.  And you all are out of Him in Christ, who became wisdom to us from God – and even righteousness and sanctification and redemption – in order that just as it has been written: “The one who boasts, boast in the Lord!”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This is another powerful set of scripture.  In fact, it is one of my favorite scriptures to think about whenever I hear someone say, “I can’t do it.”  Or someone will say, “I don’t have that gift or skill.”  The reality is that when God chooses us to do something in His kingdom the default position is that none of us have what it takes!  If we have what it takes to truly interact with God and follow Him, then we wouldn’t need Christ!  No, every single one of us needs to be equipped by God in order to do His will – and I’ll go deeper on this point in the next thought.  But truly, God knows we don’t have what it takes to accomplish His calling.  That’s why we have Christ.  That’s why we are discipled.  We are trained and equipped by God to do His will.  Think about the inherent testimony that this brings, too.  Every single one of us should be saying, “I’m not capable of doing this by my own power.  But by God’s power, here I am!”  What an incredible testimony to give to God.  Do be ashamed of what you cannot do, embrace it and move ahead anyways so that your testimony towards God can grow!

Do you ever hide behind the excuse of not being smart enough, strong enough, rich enough, of high enough status, old enough, young enough, or anything else enough?  Why do we like that excuse?  Why are those excuses really not proper in someone who has a good relationship with God?

Second Thought:

Paul uses a really powerful word in verse 28: “render insignificant.”  This word can be translated as I translate it here, but it can also be translated as “utterly destroy.”  It is a powerful world.  God has chosen the low in stats and the people of normal intelligence and the people of average ability so that He can render insignificant our collective human pride.  He doesn’t want us depending upon our own strength or abilities!  He wants us to depend on His strength and ability, which is far superior anyway!  So here is the point.  It’s okay that you don’t think much of what you can do.  Instead, you can think much of what God can do through you.

What can God do through you?  If you don’t feel like God can do much, where can you go for more equipping?  Who can partner up with you in life so that you can be discipled in how to do God’s work under His strength and power?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul talks about boasting.  This is really important – especially as we grow.  As we are discipled and grow in Spirit and in power, it is so easy to begin to think of the things we learn to do as “doing under our own power.”  It is so easy for us to think that “I did it.”  Take me for example.  After 10 years of official ministry, it is easy for me to think of it as “my ability to preach,” “my ability to translate Greek,” “my ability to pray,” or “my ability to teach out of God’s Word.”  But none of that is ever true.  It is not my ability to do any of that.  Everything comes from God.  God preaches through me.  God prays through me.  God teaches through me.  God translates His Word through me.  God is the source, He deserves the boasting.  My prayer is that it is the same for you.  It is God who allows you to disciple others.  It is God who allows you to read His Word with inspiration.  It should be God who raised your children through you.  It is God who does the impossible through you.  He deserves the credit and the praise.

Do you give God the glory?  Is your boasting in Him?  If so, how do you keep that focus?  If not, how do you gain that focus?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5