Today’s WORD (Text) 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18/ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 19/ For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20/ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21/ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22/ For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23/ but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24/ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25/ For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Today’s Witness
Followers of Jesus subscribe fundamentally to a faith principle, that the Almighty Creator God was at work in the life and ministry of Jesus bringing about reconciliation and reunion between the Divine One and humanity. We believe that Jesus laid down his life before human powers in obedience to the ultimate power of God. We believe and preach that God raised him from death, and we affirm that this is a mystery beyond human comprehension. We are not under obligation to prove the mystery. We are compelled to proclaim the mystery to all nations. God will verify, vindicate, and validate our proclamation at the end of the age. Do you believe this?
Today’s Invitation
Is there any aspect of proclaiming the message of a crucified Christ that makes you uncomfortable? How are God’s power and wisdom revealed in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for humankind?
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, we thank you for loving all of humankind so much that you sent Jesus to be the mediating and reconciling power between you and us. Use each of us to proclaim the marvelous story of your redeeming love, not only in words, but also in our deeds, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by remi skatulski on Unsplash
Today’s WORD (Text) 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18/ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 19/ For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20/ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21/ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22/ For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23/ but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24/ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25/ For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Today’s Witness
Followers of Jesus subscribe fundamentally to a faith principle, that the Almighty Creator God was at work in the life and ministry of Jesus bringing about reconciliation and reunion between the Divine One and humanity. We believe that Jesus laid down his life before human powers in obedience to the ultimate power of God. We believe and preach that God raised him from death, and we affirm that this is a mystery beyond human comprehension. We are not under obligation to prove the mystery. We are compelled to proclaim the mystery to all nations. God will verify, vindicate, and validate our proclamation at the end of the age. Do you believe this?
Today’s Invitation
Is there any aspect of proclaiming the message of a crucified Christ that makes you uncomfortable? How are God’s power and wisdom revealed in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for humankind?
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, we thank you for loving all of humankind so much that you sent Jesus to be the mediating and reconciling power between you and us. Use each of us to proclaim the marvelous story of your redeeming love, not only in words, but also in our deeds, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by remi skatulski on Unsplash