Daily Reading: 6-20-16
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
There is a phrase that I hear every now and then that really makes me stop and think. The phrase is, “(So and so) is a self-made individual.” Self-made or having become successful by one’s own efforts. Can that be a true statement about anyone if we line it up with the evidence of creation and the Lord’s involvement as the Authority of heaven and earth?
Our lives, as humans, are temporary and fragile apart from the work of God’s Spirit. We can have one area of our lives flourishing while another area is tumbling downward faster than we can grab it. For example, perhaps we are climbing the vocational ladder of success at an exponential rate, but the tapestry of our most personal relationships is unraveling. We have sacrificed one for the other. Neither the practice of our religious traditions, nor the advancement of our human intellect can bring the Wisdom for wholeness to our lives.
We need to be God-made individuals in order to be whole and eternally successful. The Spirit of God is the One who brings wholeness to our lives. Even though the very concept can seem foolish, we can know true success when we are being lead by the Spirit of Christ. Wholeness comes through the work of the cross; we follow the sacrificial Christ and we seek His Kingdom first. That means we do not seek after power and authority through the natural paths of the world. Instead, we sacrificially offer ourselves to loving others as God brings a greater measure of wholeness to our lives. It seems backwards, but it is living life forward toward eternity. Our lives were created to be lived this way, so wholeness is available if we are willing to be God-made.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Whose Wisdom Is Foolish?
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent.”
20 Where is the wise one? Where is the Torah scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For seeing that—in God’s wisdom—the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased—through the foolishness of the message proclaimed—to save those who believe. 22 For Jewish people ask for signs and Greek people seek after wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Messiah crucified—a stumbling block to Jewish people and foolishness to Gentile people, 24 but to those who are called (both Jewish and Greek people), Messiah, the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brothers and sisters, that not many are wise according to human standards, not many are powerful, and not many are born well. 27 Yet God chose the foolish things of the world so He might put to shame the wise; and God chose the weak things of the world so He might put to shame the strong; 28 and God chose the lowly and despised things of the world, the things that are as nothing, so He might bring to nothing the things that are— 29 so that no human might boast before God. 30 But because of Him you are in Messiah Yeshua, who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and holiness and redemption— 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in Adonai.”
Prayer: Lord, I boast in You and the ongoing work of Your Spirit to bring me to a place of wholeness. Even though I have a long way to go, I would not be where I am today without the work of Your Spirit. May my life radiate Your presence and may my willingness to sacrificially love others be the stepping stone to bring even more wholeness to my earthly life as preparation for eternity. Please use my life to help others see a God-made daughter. In Jesus’ name. Amen.