From: August 5, 2024
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV).
It is God’s plan that the “word of the cross” should enliven human hearts, yet it is also that which certifies that others are already dead. We may try to use human wisdom to reason and persuade, but it is the gospel message of the cross that moves people to faith. Yet it is also the gospel that reveals others to be lost by their rejection of the message. Only the message of the cross has the power to show we are already dead in our sins before making us alive in Christ. This message is a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God.
In 1707, an Englishman named Isaac Watts wrote the hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The first verse declares his response to the cross of Christ,
“When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.”
What is your response?
PRAYER: Dear Father, the cross causes us to look upon the terrible ugliness of our sin while at the same time, seeing the depth of Your love for us. It causes us to sing in worship: “See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?” Thank you for the word of the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 5, 2023
“For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2 HCSB).
Why is it easier to invite someone to church than it is to invite them to follow Jesus? Talking about church is not the most comfortable thing in our modern culture. It signals a shift in our everyday generic conversation with neighbors and coworkers, for it moves from that which we have in common to that which we don’t. Talk about the weather, or sports, or some TV show is all fair game for discussion. But church talk crosses the unspoken cultural line.
Yet, there is no other shift in conversation as uncommon as the one that speaks of Jesus Christ. Calling out His name in conversation (not swearing, but sharing), often results in an uncomfortable silence, or a sudden need for the hearer to get back to some urgent task at hand. Since we have learned this, we often avoid talking about Jesus to others. When we want to talk to them about our faith, we hold back the Jesus talk, thinking maybe we’ll get to it later. Unfortunately, the longer we delay, the more uncomfortable we feel in bringing it up. If Jesus is the most important person in our lives, why have we waited so long in talking about Him? This is the tension we feel.
What if we became as Paul? What if we decided not “to know anything except Jesus Christ” in our daily conversations? Can we try it today? What would it look like to start telling others about Jesus today?
PRAYER: Father, we have been called to be witnesses of Your Son, yet we often speak of everything except Jesus. Forgive us. Help us to be empowered and enthusiastic to talk about Jesus today. We give You this day. Give us opportunities to talk about Jesus and the spiritual boldness to tell others of His life-giving love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 5, 2022
GOD WILL FULFILL HIS WORD
King Cyrus of Persia enabled the Jews who had been captured by the Babylonian king to return to Jerusalem for the rebuilding of their temple. Persia (modern day Iran) overthrew Babylon and showed favor to the Jews by not only allowing their return, but also giving back whatever temple implements that had been stolen and offering aid in its rebuilding. This Jewish return from exile had been prophesied by Jeremiah 70 years before.
I was reminded of this history by an Iranian named Reza that I met in a London coffee shop a few years ago. When he suggested that I visit his country, I told him that I didn’t want to end up in an Iranian jail.
“No!” he insisted. “We love Americans. It’s the politics, the mullahs that stir up trouble between us. Remember, we were Persians before we became Muslims. We were the ones who helped the Jews return to Jerusalem. Ninety-nine percent of Iranians love Americans!”
I was surprised by his distinction of identity based on being Persian before he was Muslim, and by his declaration that Iranians love Americans. I suppose the Jews were surprised by Cyrus’s favor too. It reminds me that things are not always as they seem and that God is still at work in this world and that one Day all prophecies will be fulfilled in Christ.
Shall we not join Jeremiah in saying, “The Lord has done what He purposed; He has fulfilled His word, which He commanded in days of old” (Lam.2:17)?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we study and meditate on Your Word, for we know that You have spoken and are still speaking to us through it. We choose to believe Your report over the reporting of the world. We have hope in Your Word and in its promises. For You will do what you have said. Strengthen us to proclaim Your Word today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 5, 2016
Some consider the story of the cross foolishness. They dismiss the gospel as folly. They see only weakness in Jesus. They are ignorant of His life-giving, resurrection power for those who believe. Yet, Christ is both the wisdom and the power of God. His wisdom and power are revealed to those who believe. Their minds and hearts are transformed, so that foolishness and wisdom, and weakness and power, reverse poles from North to South. They are made right with God and see all things as they really are, no longer walking in darkness, but in light.
From: August 5, 2015
King Cyrus of Persia enabled the Jews who had been captured by the Babylonian king to return to Jerusalem for the rebuilding of their temple. Persia (modern day Iran) overthrew Babylon (modern day Iraq) and showed favor to the Jews by not only allowing their return, but also giving back whatever temple implements that had been stolen and offering aid in its rebuilding. This Jewish return from exile was prophesied by Jeremiah.
I was recently reminded of this history by an Iranian named Reza that I met at a London coffee shop. When he suggested that I visit his country, I told him that I didn’t want to end up in an Iranian jail. “No!” he insisted. “We love Americans. It’s the politics, the mullahs that stir up trouble between us. Remember, we were Persians before we became Muslims. We were the ones who helped the Jews return to Jerusalem. Ninety-nine percent of Iranians love Americans!” I was surprised by his distinction of identity based on being Persian more than Muslim, and by his declaration that Iranians love Americans. I suppose the Jews were surprised by Cyrus’s favor too. It reminds me that things are not always as they seem and that God is still at work in this world and that one Day all prophecies will be fulfilled in Christ.
From: August 5, 2014
It is God’s plan that the “message of the cross” should enliven human hearts, yet it is also that which certifies that others are already dead. We often try human wisdom to reason and persuade, but it is the gospel alone that saves. And it is the gospel that reveals others to be lost. Only the message of the cross has the power to show we are already dead in our sins before making us alive in Christ. This message is a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, but to us who believe it is the very power of God.
From: August 5, 2012
The message of the cross is spiritual wisdom. We are called to proclaim it to all, but not everyone will understand. God’s Spirit is the power that reveals the truth of the gospel. Explaining it with human wisdom falls short. Instead, we preach it, asking the Spirit to reveal the truth of it to human hearts. What happens when you survey the wondrous cross?