Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong…” —1 Corinthians 1:27
After winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff two years ago, the horse “Monomoy Girl” was sold for $9.5 million. Another horse, Rich Strike, shocked the sports world this year when he beat 80-1 odds to win the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Rick Dawson purchased Rich Strike for $30,000 last fall when former owner Calumet Farm, who bred the horse, entered the colt in a low-level claiming race. Rich Strike wasn’t even in the Derby field in the days leading up to the race until the last minute when another horse was scratched.
Growing up, I felt a lot like that second horse. Trying to survive the monumental odds dealt to me through fatherlessness, abandonment, abuse, and a deficiency of positive childhood mentors. My dignity and self-esteem would certainly have been described as low-level. I even became suicidal. But the gospel changed everything when I heard the Good News of Jesus while incarcerated at 16-years old. I realized God’s call on my life, surrendered to His will, and began an “underdog” journey into a purposeful future that can be described as “only by the grace of God.”
God’s Word has good news for those who find themselves in an “underdog” journey. Such were the Christians at Corinth. In spite of their humanly unimpressive pedigree, God chose them and transformed them into His people. Just as the message (the gospel) and its messenger (Paul) were foolish by the world’s standards (1 Corinthians 1:18-25), so most of those in Corinth who believed the message were foolish by those same standards. But…
“God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV)
God didn’t call the underdogs to show forth the impressiveness of the underdog, He called the underdogs to show forth the glory of Jesus—“that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” That’s exactly what God wants to do with your life—show off the glory of His Son as this Christ is formed in you daily (Galatians 4:19).
The next time you find yourself feeling like that low-level second horse in a world of seemingly more impressive pedigrees, remember that your weakness leaves little room for you to boast in yourself, and much more room for you to boast in Christ. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, it is humbling to consider your calling on our lives. We don’t impress you with our religious pedigree. You are not wooed by our ancestry, achievement, or social clout in this world. You are looking for weak and empty vessels in which you can fill with the glory of Jesus alone. May you find that in us this week, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for personal reflection or group discussion:
- In what ways have you felt more like that second horse?
- What were the Corinthians like before they were called? (1 Corinthians 1:26-27) How does God use the foolish and weak things of the world? (v. 27)
- Why does God express His power and wisdom through “foolish,” “weak,” and “lowly” means? (vv. 28-29)
- What has Jesus Christ become for us? (v. 30) What kind of boasting is good? (v. 31)
- In what ways can you boast in the pedigree of Jesus this week, as your “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption”?
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