Consider Your Own Call
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. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human
wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider 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. 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, things that are not, to reduce to
nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He
is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God,
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is
written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
In the Bible we see that God consistently used people who were
far less than perfect. The world has not changed. We are still much less than
perfect and God uses us today. We each have our role and our place.
God is glorified by showing Himself strong through our
weaknesses. It shows us that He desires to work through our lives not because
we are perfect but because He is. And since He uses weak and foolish things, it
means you and I are prime candidates for His work.
The LORD isn’t looking for superheroes. He uses those of us who
are flawed and frail, so that He can show His strength and grace. He wants
those with a willing and available heart.
In God’s service, our greatest ability is our availability.
Our Daily Bread – November 8, 2008