1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18For 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. Verse 19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Verse 20Where 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? Verse 21For 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. Verse 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, Verse 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, Verse 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Verse 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
Devotion
Last summer I told my 3-year-old nephew that I had a surprise for him and took him on a walk to the park. He didn't know where we were going and the whole way there he kept asking, "For me?" I told him over and over, "Yes, Keaton, this surprise is for YOU!" It's as if he couldn't believe I would do such a thing for him.
Have you ever received a gift you didn't think you deserved? It could have been something expensive, or something that required a lot of time and effort—or even the gift of true friendship. It is both humbling and a bit confusing to accept such generosity. For some, it may be tempting to look at the cross of Christ as a foolish sacrifice for us undeserving sinners. But when you come to the breathtaking realization of how infinite God's love really is, the cross is a given. God's love IS for you. The cross IS for you. God wouldn't have it any other way.
Prayer
God of love, place in our hearts the faith to believe in the great gift of your love and grace in Jesus' name. Amen.