Our Weak and Foolish God

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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (NIV)

22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Devotion:

            We look at today’s scripture passage and are confused as to how anyone could find God weak and foolish. Yet, to the original hearers of this letter in Corinth there would be no mystery at all. The vast majority of both Greeks and Jews who first heard the message of the gospel of Jesus preached dismissed it out of hand because it did not fit their preconceived notions of what a savior ought to be.

            Times have changed since the first century when Paul first proclaimed these words. However, the response of people to the gospel has not changed that much. Granted the categories of Jew and gentile are now out of date. However, people still reject Christ because of these very same ideas. To some in our culture the presentation of a savior and Lord who was crucified is ridiculous. To others in our culture the very idea that we would even need a savior is sheer madness.

            Just as things were in Paul’s day Jesus is looked down upon as a weak and foolish man who died for no reason and added little to life on earth. Yet there are still these weak and foolish people called Christians who push forward with this nonsense of a crucified savior. In our western world today, it seems as if fewer and fewer people are willing to give this man Jesus a second look. That should not bother us, however. We who call ourselves Christians know the secret which the rest of the world cannot know because they are spiritually blind, or self-satisfied.

            The secret is that the weakness of God is stronger than the strongest of humans. The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisest person who ever lived. Truly, knowing God through Jesus will turn your world upside down. Suddenly taking up ones cross and following Jesus is no longer a burden but a joy for us. Washing one anothers feet literally or figuratively is no longer a job for someone else but a calling to be of service to our neighbor.

            Somehow, through the weak and foolish God we are called to be the salt and light to a dark and decaying world. Let us pray that the Lord will help others to come and dine at God’s banquet table.

Prayer:

            Lord help us in our weak and foolish human state to proclaim your power and strength through Jesus. Lord, no more let sin and sorrows reign in our lives. May we be witness to the power of your life shining through us. In our thoughts, words, and actions help us to display your love O God. May we display the weakness and foolishness of God in our lives. Just as Jesus displayed them in his life on earth.

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