Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Paul’s teaching sometimes takes a little examination because of the pattern and structure of his writing. For instance, on my screen this morning the first sentence takes up seven lines! However, Paul writes these many things in the hope that one description or explanation might catch our attention and make us think.
He reminds the Corinthians that when he came they were mostly ordinary people, not wise or mighty or noble (v. 26), but that God chose them for a purpose and would give them what was needed to accomplish it. They would still be ordinary people but “by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God” (v. 30). Once we know the Lord, our lives are forever changed.
God wants us to be connected to Him and to share the joy of that relationship with all our brothers and sisters. We are blessed to be His children and to grow in His love. He has redeemed us at a great price and for that let us boast in the Lord.
Heavenly Father, we are thankful that we don’t need to be remarkable for You to choose us. Help us to see our ordinary world and our ordinary brethren as the extraordinary creation You have made. Amen.