God Who Calls You Is Faithful

“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge – because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” I Corinthians 1:4-9

When our son was about 2 years old, he tried very hard to be independent and do things for himself. Sometimes he would get into difficult spots because of this. And I would tell him over and over, it is okay to ask for help when you need it. One day, as I was going about my business at home, I heard a little voice in the distance calling, “Help… Help…” I quickly responded to find our son had crawled into a tight space and couldn’t get back out. I gently helped him out and he was grateful.

Jews: demand miraculous signs – Christ crucified is a stumbling block

Greeks: look for wisdom – Christ is foolishness to the gentiles

Those whom God has called: Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God

1:27-30 “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

When we look at the world and ourselves from our own point of view, we have such limited vision for what could be. Even at our best, we are not able to do much on our own power. Our own wisdom is limited by our ‘small world’ we can see from our point of view. When we come to the end of ourselves, our wisdom and righteousness, we fall very short of what could be.

So there is Jesus Christ, crucified, and with power risen from the dead and returned to his Father in Glory. This Jesus confounds the wise and breaks all the rules and expectations of the Jews. Yet, person by person, he demonstrates his awesome power. When we are able to crucify ourselves and bend our knee to his kingship, he gives us a new perspective on things and through his power, we can become everything he wants us to be. It is no longer me pushing my agenda, but Christ in me loving others through me.

And Paul assures us, and I have personally lived it, that God is faithful – always ready to help in our time of need. God is faithful to keep our hearts and our minds safe in him. I yield and God protects. I seek and God leads me to his knowledge. I need and God fills and blesses. I fear and God walks with me through the hard times. This is a relationship built on love and trust. I love because God first loved me. I trust because God is faithful.

Oh Holy Father, my heart cannot contain the love that I am feeling from you right now. You are truly and awesome God, full of wonder and grace. I don’t deserve anything you have done for me. I am not deserving of your love. Yet you chose to love me and you choose to be my friend and mentor each day. Thank you. Today is no different from other days. I still need to go into battle. But you don’t send me into battle without the armor I need and ‘you have my back’ all the time. I trust you in this, that you will protect me and you will lead me. Today, I want to be the best servant and soldier I can be for you. Help me to remember your provisions when I need them and to not look to myself to fulfill needs I cannot fulfill. Thank you. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.