Week 28
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “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.”
God does not save BIG SHOTS! God is not a respecter of persons; He is not impressed with us, regardless of our worldly position and resources.
But this is only part of the grand story of the gospel. God delights in glorifying Himself in human smallness, weakness, and seeming insignificance.
For those who are impressed with themselves, this is bad news. They cannot buy God, bribe God, or impress God so as to force His hand or attract His attention. The only people to whom God will look are those who humble themselves before Him and seek His mercy. The Bible says in Isaiah 66:1-2, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool…But to this one, I will look, to him who is humble and contrite (regret, sorrow, and repentance) of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
The Bible says again, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Peter says in his “First Epistle of Peter” (5:5-6) the following, “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”
God accepts people only when they come to see themselves as needy sinners, as unworthy recipients of divine grace, and humbly seeking God’s favor and mercy in Christ. The proud need not apply for salvation. No one walks into heaven proudly waving the banner of self-exaltation. All who enter into the presence of God in glory come humbly, stooping in humility to receive God’s offer of free sovereign grace.
This is good news for people who see themselves as sinners, rebels against God, and transgressors against the law of God. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for unworthy sinners, such as we all are. His mercy holds back His wrath, and His grace reaches down to save us.
God’s Word to the arrogant is this: repent and humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. God’s Word to the humble who repent of sin and seek Christ: Come and find full and free forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christians never lose sight of our unworthiness outside of Christ; we are righteous only through the gift of righteousness given to us in Jesus. Thus, we rejoice in the sovereign saving work of God in Christ.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Jesus Christ and Your free grace to save me. Help me never to inflate my ego, as if to prove something. Help me only to humbly rejoice in Your gift of life and salvation in Jesus Christ to those who have faith in Him. Amen.