May 17
“You see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord,’” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
The power and the wisdom of God is revealed in the lives of those who are called by God to believe and trust in the Lord Jesus as God’s Son and their Savior. Through the power of the Holy Spirit working with the Word of God and touching hearts with the call to repentance and faith, God has called people out of spiritual darkness into the light of the glorious Gospel.
The apostle points out that, “Not many wise according to the flesh . . . are called.” Not many intellectually wise and learned people in Corinth had accepted Christianity in the apostle’s day. It is the same in our day; the intellectually wise and learned people according to the flesh – that is, according to human standards – reject God’s call to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation. Likewise, not many mighty people who are in powerful, ruling positions respond to God’s call to accept Christianity as the only way of salvation. Not many noble people in prominent, popular, world-renowned positions are numbered among those who believe in the one true God and in Jesus Christ whom He sent to be the Savior of all people.
God has called into His family and into His Church of believers those whom the world considers to be the foolish, the weak, the base, and the despised in society. People whom the world considers to be of little importance or significance are called by God and are moved by the Holy Spirit to trust and believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Savior, who lived a holy life in our place and who suffered and died on the cross to pay the price for our redemption. His holy, precious blood has washed away our sins, and we can stand before God robed in Jesus’ righteousness.
Our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption were all accomplished through Jesus, whom the heavenly Father sent in His love, grace, and mercy. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast,” Ephesians 2:8-9. As Christians, we have nothing to boast and brag about. God the Father loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us. The Lord Jesus loved us and suffered, died, and rose again to redeem us. The Holy Spirit out of love called us to believe and trust in Jesus. We are saved not by our works, but by God’s grace! Give God the glory!
“God of grace and love and blessing,
Thine alone shall be the praise;
Give us hearts to trust Thee truly,
Hands to serve Thee all our days.
Lord, bestow Thy future blessing,
Till we join the heav’nly host,
There to praise and serve Thee ever,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Amen.