Tuesday, September 14, 2010

CHRIST THE POWER OF GOD!

Holy Cross Day
1 Corinthians 1:18-24 (NRSV)

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


DEVOTION

This has always been one of my favorite Bible verses!

Isn't it amazing that the Great I Am, The Wisest of the Wise, and the Creator & Sustainer of the Universe chose to save the world in such a "small and ordinary" way!

He could have done it with signs and wonders! He could have done it with complex theories and facts. He could have done it with pomp and circumstance. He could have done it with loud debate in the public square. He could have done it by ripping the sky open and descending with a shout!

Instead, he sent an approximately 7 pound baby into the world to live and then DIE in order to proclaim the salvation of God!

Jesus died in a way that was horrific, but ordinary. LOTS of people died on the cross. It was a means of public humiliation and execution reserved for the worst criminals. But certainly people would have been accustomed to seeing the crosses littering the hillside.

That is why Paul said, "For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"

Later he writes, "For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Hallelujah!

Baby Jesus may have looked ordinary. Jesus, the carpenter, may have appeared ordinary. Jesus dying on the cross may have looked ordinary. But, his ordinary life became EXTRAordinary when he died AND THEN ROSE AGAIN on the third day with all power in his hands--victorious over sin, death, and the grave--having secured the forgiveness of sin and our eternal life.

There is NO-THING ordinary about this good news message which we preach! Indeed, Christ is the power and wisdom of God!

As we put all of our hope in Him, we trust this power and wisdom, knowing that all that was needful was done and secured at Calvary and on Easter Morning!

He arose! And with his resurrection came the resurrection of all our hopes and dreams for an eternal future with God!

Do you believe this?


Let us pray:

God thank you that you use the foolishness of the cross to save those of us who are perishing! I am so glad that I do not have to use my own wisdom or discernment to save myself, for I most certainly would fail. Thank you for Jesus and for your love revealed in his life, death, and resurrection. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I believe the good news and pledge to share it all of my days. I pray this in the Name of Love, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you have become a follower of Christ! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would take a moment to click "YES" in answer to the survey question "Did you put all of your hope in Jesus today?" located at the top-right-hand corner of this blog.

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!





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