1 Corinthians 1:26-31
For example, consider your call, brothers. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view, not many were powerful, and not many were born with high status. But God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are strong, and God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to do away with the things that are, so that no one may boast before God. But because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. God did this so that, just as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
You chose us who believe in you, according to your goodwill. Our lives are filled with sin, and there was nothing special in us that you looked at us and said, “I have to have that person.” It was quite the opposite; you took what the world rejected and made it your own. You, the King of the universe, saw our value when you should have abandoned us because of our sin. Our sins pushed us away and separated us from you, yet those sins are why you sent your Son. He came to this earth to endure suffering; his own people rejected him because he did not fit their idea of who the Messiah would be. Their rejection led him to the cross, where he suffered and died for all our sins. Through faith in Jesus, we have the wisdom that comes from you. What is your wisdom? Knowing we have been forgiven of all our sins is the key to heaven and eternal life. Through Jesus’ death and by faith, we are made right with you. Jesus sent his Spirit to be with us so we would be set apart as holy—sanctified. Through Jesus’ blood, we were repurchased—redeemed. We have eternal life. Paul wrote, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” May we always boast in you because it was through you we have eternal life. Today, give us opportunities to share the good news with others the world has also rejected. Amen.
Pastor Roger Emmons
God knows what it means to be rejected by people; we are not alone. God’s chosen people he saved from Egypt turned to false idols; then hung their innocent Savior Jesus on a cross. God knows our pain; he is ready and waiting for us with his love.