Wisdom Incognito

1 Corinthians 1:18–31 The Jews thought those who were hung on a tree were cursed, and the Greeks thought the cross was foolishness. Both then and now, the cross confounds human wisdom and reasoning. Our own wisdom doesn’t lead us to God. God confounds expectations of what is valuable and valid in order to display His glory, and He thus puts our own wisdom to shame. He chooses the things that appear foolish, weak, and insignificant to display His glory (1 Cor 1:27–28). Being redeemed, we know that God chose to show His grace to us—we who are often weak, insignificant, and despised by human standards. Knowing the power of God, we shouldn’t boast in anything but Him. We did not attain God’s favor through our own wisdom. In addition, we shouldn’t be motivated by power, wealth, or notoriety. We should only boast in Jesus, who is all to us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. How we spend our time should be in response to this. If we find our attention or our motivations divided, and our own wisdom guiding us instead of God, we need to reorient them. How do you view the death of Jesus? Does the cross completely transform you? Are you taken in by the glory and the power of it? Take an honest look at how you spend your time and money: how can you reshape your efforts so that you’re serving God? Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012). Connect the Testaments: A Daily Devotional. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.