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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. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
Most people know the "out there" Jesus, distant, an idea or ideal, a thought or image. Believers know Jesus as a person, as Lord, Savior, friend. The out there Jesus people know about His life, some of his teachings, and some other things. Believers know Jesus. They know He came to earth to reconcile the world to God. They know He preached, taught, healed, suffered and died for us. And on the third day after dying, He rose again. His Holy Spirit carries on the work here on the earth if we but ask. This passage says some people believe the cross' message to be foolishness; and it also says those who believe that are perishing. One candidate for ministry was among those for they believed God would not allow such a thing to happen. This passage also says that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and those who claim to be discerning will be thwarted. Listen to this passage again: "but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is 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."
John Wesley was one of those who knew the "out there" Jesus. On a ship tossed by every stormy wave, he sought to find a place where he might die, but encountered a group of believers singing and praising God. He wondered why the happiness and peace in the midst of a terrible storm that would surely claim their lives? The leader of the group pulled Wesley aside and asked him if he knew Jesus Christ. Wesley replied with "I know Him to be the savior of the world." The leader pressed him, "Don't you know Him to be your savior?" Wesley could not. And he wrote so in his journal. It would be not long after that he attended a lay-lead Bible study, where one was reading Martin Luther's Preface to the Epistle of the Romans," and he was touched by a warm heart where he came to know Jesus. He wrote, "I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me, that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." For years he had preached, as he had been told by a friend, faith. "Preach faith until you have faith, and then because you have faith you will preach faith." What a difference to bring Jesus right into your heart and out of the clouds. It makes all the difference in how we live life, handle the challenges of this life, and we receive the hope we need for tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that.
PRAYER: Loving God, I want to know Jesus as a person. For too long I have kept Him at arm's length, now I want Him in my heart as my Lord and Savior. I want to live my life as one who loves, walks, talks, and trusts Him in all things. This I pray asking forgiveness of my sins, in His precious name, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Here is the link to today's devotional through YouTube. Please feel free to forward this message to loved ones who might be blessed by it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldk-YmByhgs
