Whose Fool? – Part 1

This week, Michael writes that 1 Corinthians 4:10  says, “We are fools for Christ”. According to the God-rejecting world's standards Christians are nobodies.  We are despised, reviled, and dishonored for the sake of our Lord.  Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools to the world. The foolish things of the world confound the wise. We're all someone's fool. Whose fool are you?  Meekness and humility are the requirements to approach God's throne of mercy and grace.  To come to him we must acknowledge that He's God and we're not.

1 Corinthians 1:27-30 “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

When God chose Joshua and Caleb to report back about the Promised Land, their report was that with God, we can take the land. Numbers 13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” The odds are always with the minority who stand with the strength of the Lord. God chooses men and women whom the world considers nobodies ... those who are insignificant and of no consequence.  

When Jesus ministered He said, "My kingdom is not of this world"- John 18:36. They wanted to make Him a political leader but He chose men and women who would follow Him ...  those whom the God-rejecting world considered inconsequential nobodies. Most people feel unworthy, especially on spiritual turf. They think that they'll be asked something about the Bible that they don't know. However, Jesus saw his men and women, not as they were, but what they would be when they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. He saw them as men and women whose names were written in the “Book of Life”. Excellence is what God made us in Christ. Paul warned the Corinthians that they should not deal with the God-rejecting world on the world's terms. There have been times in our "Christian culture" where "seeker sensitive" churches wanted to look like the world in order to cater to the lost souls of the secular world. However, when God sanctifies, He sets us apart from world's purposes to dedicate our lives according to His purpose ... according to His divine design.

The world tells men and women that they don't matter ... that they are insignificant and of no value. However, God chooses the weak and lowly things of the world to confound the wise. When Mother Theresa was on a world tour, one congressman looking for a photo-opportunity, handed her a check for her foundation “Sisters of Mercy”.  She graciously declined the million dollar check and told him, "Give your money to someone who needs it more. God has met all of our needs and will continue to provide. Go home and love the unlovable. God works best with nothing."

Let’s continue Michael’s message, “Whose Fool” on the next Post.

In Christ, Brian