Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NRSV)
DEVOTIONAL: What is wisdom?
Wisdom does not always accompany good grades. Walker Percy once said, “You can get all A’s, and still flunk life.” I can testify to the truth of that statement, and you probably can too.
Wisdom often does not correlate with financial or political success either. Newspapers are full of stories about wealthy and powerful people who were perceived to be wise, but turned out to be foolish. The core Christian belief that a crucified Christ is the Savior of the world seems like utter foolishness to many. But to us who believe, the “foolishness” of a crucified and risen Christ has the power to transform our sad and lost lives with amazing grace. Like an M.C. Escher drawing, where birds morph into fish before our eyes, Jesus the foolish stumbling block morphs into Jesus the Son of God, the window into the mind and heart of our Creator.
How much faith does it take to grasp this true wisdom of God? Just a mustard seed. Plant it in your heart and God will make it grow. Just a baby step. Put one foot forward into the darkness and God’s light will show the way.
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PRAYER:
God, I believe. Help my unbelief. Keep me focused today on the “foolishness” of Christ rather than the hollow wisdom of the world.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (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. 19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 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? 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. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.