Saturday after the Second Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 22, 2022 by under
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 (NKJV)
1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 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; 28 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, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Devotion
“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” St. Paul emphasizes the fact that God proclaims His truth and glory through all sorts of events and conditions. In small things and in grand works, He is working for the help and benefit of those who are faithful according to His calling.
Our current society is especially bad about encouraging fools to think that they are wise. People are urged to share their opinions and their judgments about every little thing that happens in the world of “social media”, but the overwhelming majority of those people have no knowledge from which to make informed assessments. The wisdom of God says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:7). Christ Himself was silent and humble in certain situations so that the Father’s holy will would be accomplished. In the events that led up to our Lord’s crucifixion, He was unconcerned with how weak or foolish the malefactors thought He was. He was accomplishing the most holy and glorious sacrifice known to man as He was slain for our redemption!
As our Lord worked through the “foolishness” of the Cross, He can also work through the small, seemingly foolish good works that His faithful people do according to His commands. He can even work through our silence, because even that can bear witness to His Word which accomplishes all things for the sake of His beloved children.
Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, Who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
