1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18For 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. Verse 19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Verse 20Where 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? Verse 21For 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. Verse 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, Verse 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, Verse 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Verse 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. Verse 26Consider 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. Verse 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; Verse 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, Verse 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. Verse 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, Verse 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Devotion
The words of Saint Paul today are lonely words. The gospel message is indeed the truth the world is seeking, but Paul makes it abundantly clear that to proclaim this story is to be called foolish. In the secular world, many people give to charities and act in kindness for the tax write-offs and public renown. Those of us who are evangelical in the world for the sake of the triune God enjoy these benefits as well, but they are not our goal. We immediately turn around and give the glory to Christ, the one who made our magnanimity possible. Though the world may laugh, we have the comforting arms of God to hold us and a community of faith to gather around us as family.
Prayer
Comforting God, your message of hope was rejected by the world and hung on a cross to die. Let the resurrection of Jesus be alive in me, that I might bravely proclaim your hope in my life to the world. Amen.