The God Who Loves Nobodies - January 6 Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

We are going to "enter the year with praise." Our January readings and devotionals will all focus on the goodness and grace of God. Get a journal or notebook to write down your thoughts every day. Our passages are shorter - please don't rush through them. Take time to meditate and consider why God is worthy of your praise.

Enter 2020 with the praise of God on your lips!

Today's Praise Passage:  1 Corinthians 1:18-31

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence. 30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Through the Bible Reading: Genesis 13-14, Matthew5:21-48, Psalm 5:1-5, Proverbs 1:16-19

Some of our readers want a little more "meaty" devotional, so I am including a link to the through Through the Bible in One Year readings we did last year. 

Devotional: The God Who Loves Nobodies 

If you are looking for a passage that builds your self-esteem and makes you feel that God chose you and loves you because you are so wonderful, lovable, and that you are worthy of his grace - this is not that passage.

We love to think about God saving great athletes or musicians or movie stars, or other celebrities, as if there were some special joy that attached to the redemption of someone who is famous here on earth. Of course, their salvation is a cause to rejoice, but the kingdom of God is not built on finding the rich and famous to redeem. Yes, God saves some of the rich and famous and uses them, but that is not his usual mode of operation.

He is a redeemer, not a talent scout. God does not go around looking for the best and the brightest who can do great things to help him. God selects ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them - by his grace and for his glory.

In one of my favorite passages of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, and it spells out exactly who God chooses for his kingdom, and why.

It was really not a great compliment to the Corinthians, or to us, but it is an important point. Not many of them were highly educated or intelligent. God wasn't looking for college professors to populate his kingdom. Not many were powerful. God has all the power the kingdom needs and ours is irrelevant to him. God did not choose many among the nobility. Human distinctions tend to lead to pride and that hinders the work of God. 

No, God chose the foolish things to make the smart look stupid. He chose what is weak so that he could demonstrate his power through them. He chose that which the world disdains as insignificant and used them to bring the rich and influential to their knees. 

He makes his reasons for this clear as well, listing two reasons that are actually sides of the same coin. He designs things so that we, his redeemed, are left totally without cause for boasting. I am nothing except what God makes me and can do nothing except that which he empowers. Why would I boast? It all comes from God and he deserves the praise. 

But boasting should take place in the lives of the redeemed - boasting in Christ and about Christ. It borders on the blasphemous for me to boast in myself, but it is also wrong to fail to brag on the amazing work of Christ's grace. 

The kingdom of God is not about us, our talents, abilities, and efforts. It is about God and what he can do in us and through us. 

Father, it is all about your Son! He paid for my sins and gave me life. You chose me for your glory, to doing your work in me. For that I praise you today.

Think and Pray:

Meditate on this passage and write down:

1. The character qualities of God for which you can praise him. 

2. The gracious acts of God for which you can give thanks to him. 

Take some time today to boast in the work of Christ in your life.
How has he changed you?
What sins has he washed clean?
What ministries has he accomplished through you?