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,
We thank you for not making wisdom, power, or wealth the criteria to get into heaven. We cannot get into heaven any other way but by faith in Jesus, our Savior. You intentionally chose what the world considers foolish, weak, and lowly to shame those who put faith in their own efforts. When we look at ourselves in the mirror of your word, we see who we actually are; this is where your Holy Spirit begins with faith. When we realize all our bumps of sin and the frailties this world has caused us is where we recognize we are nothing without Jesus. But Jesus came to us to live the life we could never live; he gives us credit for his perfection. Then he suffered our punishment on the cross, taking our weakness, lowliness, and foolish ways into himself. So that whoever believes in him, he raises them up as your children and fellow heirs of your kingdom. By faith in Jesus, we have been made right with you and brought into your righteousness. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us—sets us apart as holy, so out of faith, we live out of love for what Jesus has done for us. Because Jesus suffered for us on the cross, we are redeemed and restored to you, and all this is not because of anything we have done or who we are, but done out of your grace and mercy; this is undeniably out of your love for us.
Please provide us with opportunities to share your good news with someone who does not know you or Jesus; so that they will also hear the excellent news of forgiveness that you love them and have sent your Son to save them. Then we ask that you send your Holy Spirit to ignite faith in them. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
What a relief that God chooses his believers not based on who or what you are but on who and what you are not. The more broken you recognize you are, the more he wants you into his family, and your inheritance into his kingdom is yours through faith in Jesus’ forgiveness.