Love, Tuesday... it's so simple.
Part 3 of my Devotional time in vail:
I’m so thankful for the time away in the mountains, and there is something to be said about spending time in God’s Word OUT IN God’s World… His beautiful creation of trees, mountains and streams of water are so peaceful.
Today I am a little sad because I should be getting on an airplane for another beautiful part of this world that has mountains, trees and water…
Bellagio, Italy! But that can’t happen when the airplanes cancel your flights and the country won’t let you in…
So, I will go back to praying about it and sharing with you the verses I was reading by the river up in Vail instead.
These verses in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 are truth bombs and I know sometimes that is hard to hear, but I pray it causes you to think about what you believe:
“For the word of the cross is folly 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 Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified!"
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 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; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”
SO THAT…
“as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."” 1 Corinthians 1:18-20, 26-31
As I mentioned in my last post, we know that to many people the words in the Bible mean nothing, and that is becoming more evident each and every day. I also understand that “the wise of this world” think it’s foolish to follow this man named Jesus. To this day, many people still would rather have the “philosophers of enlightenment” explain their complicated ideas of why we are here and what is next to come.
But think about this:
It is by Gods design that He created the gospel message as a SIMPLE story of love and redemption that begins in a humble manger and culminates at a cross of crucifixion…
as the remedy for the plight of humanity!
He didn’t send a wise scholar or appoint a Pharisee to bring the people wisdom or enlightenment... He didn’t make it this huge philosophical theory that we need to figure out.
He came in the form of a humble man named Jesus, to bring His love, power and saving grace to all that would believe! And yes, that does confuse people… I get that.
But I love this so much, and do you know why?
Because Jesus came to be on our level. To live amongst us. God came down to us because He of His LOVE for us!
Because He came to live the sinless life that we could never live… so that we might have eternal life!
Because He chose to live with the weak and lowly, not the proud and wise.
And… because He made the way to eternal life so SIMPLE!
It’s not complicated, it’s not something you have to work to attain or try to understand some complicated theory.
And that should give us so much hope!
What really speaks to me personally are the verses about the people God was calling to share the gospel message… they weren’t wise according to the world. They didn’t have power or nobility. They didn’t attain “a higher state of enlightenment” to aid them in self-awareness or self-development. (more on my feelings about the Enneagram at a later date…)
See, I never finished college and therefore I don’t have a degree. I’ve been a homemaker my whole life and when asked by people in certain circles, I could definitely tell that changed their opinion of me. I also don’t have the best grammar skills and I certainly don’t feel comfortable speaking in front of people! And that’s right the enemy loves to knock us down for all the things we think we are lacking in? He sure has a way of getting into our heads and reminding us of our inadequacies, right?
But we can be encouraged by these words in 1 Corinthians because they are the POWER of God, and like Isaiah 55:11 says: God’s word will not be returned void… it will accomplish what purposes He meant for it! Because the power is OF GOD and it is not of us! It is not by our power, or our intelligence or our strength...
So that...
No human being may boast!
as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Please get this point I’m trying to share with you:
The simple story of salvation is for everyone, and God is choosing to use you and me to share the gospel message with a confused world right now. And the great news is that we don’t have to have some fancy degree, eloquent speech, or perfect understanding of the human mind to share it with others! He can (and does) work through our broken, or imperfect, or normal every day people lives to show that it is Him... it is His power that can light the darkness and bring grace and hope and love to a hurting world!
Our job is just to point people to Him and to His Word… (we plant the seeds and water them… “by the word of our testimony”) … but He does the growing and changing lives!
I know we can all feel unworthy or in a way incapable of this calling at times, but I hope this reminder the Lord shared with me in my quiet time also encourages you to step out in faith and share the love of Jesus with someone today!
Hugs,
Laura McCollough