1 Corinthians 1-4
December 7, 2014

One of the key things that Paul talks about in the first several chapters of 1 Corinthians is the idea that Christians defy conventional wisdom.  In Chapter 1:27 he says that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong and the lowly and despised things, the things that are not, to nullify the things that are".    For some reason God has decided to demonstrate His power by using people who are otherwise incapable. Probably because when He does there isn't any doubt that what has been accomplished was God working, and not the wisdom or skill of man.

Think back to the Old Testament.  Moses wasn't skilled in leadership, but God worked through him.  There was no way that Moses would have led the people to the edge of the Red Sea..it was a strategic blunder of catastrophic proportions...until God is involved.  Then it becomes a brilliant play. The Bible is filled with stories of unlikely  people doing incredible things through an awesome God.
Joshua, Gideon, David, Hezekiah, the Disciples, Stephen and many, many others.    And that's just what happened in the first 100 years or so.   Ever since the time of Christ there have been men and women who have accomplished miraculous things by surrendering themselves to Jesus.   What was impossible became possible because they acknowledged their weakness and His power.

Today is no different from those days.  God is the same today as He has always been.  He chooses to work through people who understand they are incapable on their own.   So, if you feel like God wants you to teach a Sunday School class, don't worry about your skill level...focus on having an intimate relationship with Jesus, and He will guide you through it.   If you are supposed to stand and testify in front of many witnesses, don't panic...God will give you the words if He placed you there in the first place.   It doesn't mean that you don't have work to do on your end....you will have to give 100%.   But God will make up for the shortfall, whatever it happens to be.

I share from personal experience that God is able, period.   I have lived this part of the Bible in my own life.  If you look at my background, you would know that there isn't anything there that says I should be where I am today, speaking to a committed group of Christians, many of whom are far more wise than I.   But God gives ability where ability is needed.    There's nothing in my background that says I could help the church to build a new structure, but that's exactly what God did, using unlikely people like myself and others.   In humility, I brag about the power of God, who can do all things.  I celebrate today the wonderful plan of Jesus to use the simple things of the world, the common and overlooked things, like the manger and the cross... to refute earthly thrones and scepters.

PR