40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 21

Focus: God Chooses the Weak and Foolish of the World
By Jon Fadely, IOC

Scripture Reference:

“Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth... Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong; and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27).

Devotional:

“Foolish.” “Weak.” “Nothing.” Not exactly words of encouragement. If we heard such a declaration from the church pulpit on Sunday, we might consider changing congregations. Paul is not doing much to build up our self-esteem, is he? No, he most certainly is not. Perhaps, instead, he is working on our “God-esteem.”

We so often focus on our own strength (or weakness); our own wisdom (or lack thereof); our own status and position; or someone else’s status and position; when our focus should really be: What is God doing? Who is God leading, guiding, speaking to and through?

Maybe one reason that God chooses the “foolish,” “weak” and “nothings” of the world is because they are not quite so sure of themselves . . . not that quick to propose solutions to problems they don’t fully understand; a bit more aware of a certain emptiness within; a hunger that can only be satisfied by something or Someone else.

Why does God “shame” the “wise” and the “strong”? In the King James Version, the word “shame” is translated as “confound,” which leads me to think God’s intent here is not so much public embarrassment, but rather a self-awakening . . . a good dose of old-fashioned humble pie. It’s pretty good food for any journey of faith.

When the “strong” and the “wise” of the world are confronted with the reality of the dignity, the beauty, and the humanity of those they have forgotten, they often experience just such an awakening. When, in that encounter with Truth, the “strong” and the “wise” of the world experience the love of God for the first time in their hearts, suddenly, those hearts are changed, softened, and opened to being loved and to loving others. This is the wonderful way of a loving Father, who desires that not one of His children, not the foolish and weak, not the strong and wise, be lost.

Prayer Points:

• Pray that we would be confounded by His wisdom and His power.
• Pray that we would learn from those the world might regard as “weak” and “foolish.”
• Pray that we would embrace His love in a new and deeper way this Lenten season.
• Pray that we would love those around us as we have been loved by God.