Focus
Close your eyes and open yourself as you relax into a peaceful state. Be willing to expose yourself for who you are as God created you to be. Breathe deeply as you prepare to hear God’s Word.
Read
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Reflect
When I think of Paul’s writing about the weak and the strong I think of the prophet Elijah and his confrontation with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. 1 Kings 17-22 is a battle between Yahweh and Baal. Elijah represents Yahweh. King Ahab and Jezebel represent Baal. God demonstrates power and glory over the impotent idol, Baal. In the story of Elijah, God flips the script of conventional thinking by using weak and unclean things to show mastery over Baal. A no-name prophet from a hill city frustrates the mighty King Ahab. God uses drought to illustrate power over the storm god. God uses unclean birds to sustain Elijah. God sends Elijah to the country of the enemy, where he is cared for by a Gentile widow who becomes a believer in Yahweh. God raises the son of the gentile woman from death, and eventually, the child of Queen Jezebel would die.
It does not matter how much power we have in this world. We may be multimillionaires or have the power of being a president. God does not seek those who can operate in their own strength. God seeks those that rely on God’s power. God can do amazing things when we submit to God, even when we think we are weak and useless.
Pray
God, do something great in our lives today as we submit to you and your power. Our world is in a dark place, light us on fire that we may spread healing and joy. Use us to overcome hate. Amen.
Go with God!
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