April 4 | 1 Corinthians 1:23
“But we keep preaching Christ, who has been crucified, a stumbling block of offense to Jews, and to Gentiles, ridiculous” (1 Corinthians 1:23)
Some people say the strangest things. I’m convinced they do it to get attention. Most of it doesn’t make sense. Perhaps that’s by design. The best way to get attention is to make a full of yourself or presume something that may not be true.
Oftentimes in the public square, we can say whatever we want without having to back it up with truth and facts. Even after fact checkers make corrections to the witness of popularity, we still don’t always accept it. This happens in politics.
Paul didn’t preach Jesus to make a fool of himself, or to be popular.. Just the opposite. The Cross was a stumbling block to Jews because of their laws. One law proclaims that anyone who dies on a tree is cursed.
The Greeks (Gentiles) couldn’t understand the Cross either. Why would someone, especially an innocent man, be crucified? It didn’t make sense. But when we come to the Cross and see Jesus, it makes sense to us.
The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross was for you. If He didn’t go to the Cross, you would not have eternal life. It’s a stumbling block and folly to those who don’t know Jesus because they don’t see His love for them.
Action Step: Show Jesus’s love to someone today. Offer them your resources, sacrifice your schedule, and spend time with them.
Jesus, I see what You did for me, and it is beautiful! You went through that brutal torture to prove over and over to me Your love. I love you. I want to show it like You did. How can I show my love for you today?
October 28 | 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5, ESV)
Did you ever find yourself using the wrong tool? Screwdrivers are great for screwing screws but they don’t do much for nails. Hammering a screw just destroys the screw. Some power tools are not strong enough to do the job.
Paul tells us here and in Ephesians 6:12 that we won’t win spiritual battles with physical weapons. Instead, we use spiritual weapons that have God’s power. We destroy spiritual strongholds. God uses our minds, His Spirit teaches us how to defeat arguments and philosophies opposed to God.
Satan has used his momentary authority as the prince of the power of the air to set up ungodly world systems that attack you. Every thought, whether it’s yours or one in the world you are combating, must come under the authority of Christ.
You must protect your mind when you face spiritual battles. The enemy will tell you you’re not good enough. He’ll say you are not strong enough to face him. But he’s wrong on all counts. God gives you His power to demolish strongholds that stand against you.
Action Step: Renew your mind every day through Bible reading, study, meditation, and memorization. Allow the Spirit to prepare you for battle with the powerful weapon of God’s Word.
Lord Jesus, prepare me for battle by sharpening my mind and renewing it. I don’t want to think like the world. I want to think with Your power. As I face ungodly philosophies, opinions, and thoughts, give me Your solutions.
