Would you want to be a part of a group of people who was considered foolish?
Would you willingly choose to be a part of a group that is known for being offensive?
Be careful how you answer.
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
~ 1 Corinthians 1:18, NLT
In this day and age, when many want to fit in, be politically correct and make sure we say the “right” thing, the lines are becoming incredibly blurred and the waters muddied when it comes to what may seem foolish and offensive.
In this week’s scripture, we learn that there is a bit of a reversal in what some may consider foolish or offensive.
There are two groups of people in this one verse. Let me describe them a few different ways:
- Those who are not foolish and those who are considered foolish because of the message they carry.
- Those who consider the message of the cross to be absurd and those who don’t.
- Those who are headed for destruction and those who are not.
Now in this last description of these two groups, one could automatically assume that those who are headed for destruction are the ones who are considered foolish, right?
Well…not so in the Kingdom of God.
Those who are considered foolish are actually the ones who are NOT headed for destruction because they know that the message of the cross is the very power of God.
However, they carry a message that is foolish and to many, very offensive.
As believers, we ought to know that the cross is offensive.
But not in the way one would think, especially when you get to know the One who is behind this message–Jesus Christ.
Normally, we think of this word in a negative way, where one may be acting aggressively, insolent or hurtful (Merriam dictionary) to another person or group of people.
This is NOT how we are to behave as believers.
Yet, the cross is offensive because the One who died, an innocent Man, died in a despised way–the way criminals were executed back in that day.
The cross is offensive because Jesus died the same death the vilest of all criminals would die in that time and He did it for you and for me.
It’s offensive because when you look at the message behind it, it is very sobering reminder that we are all sinners, well deserving of the death and punishment Christ went through, and yet, He did it for us.
He went in our place.
He died the death that was meant for us so that we could live.
As followers of Christ, we must know and be reminded that when we choose to live a life that is pleasing to God, i.e. going against the customs of the world, not only will this be offensive to some, but it may appear foolish.
But it is well worth it for what Jesus did for us.
May you be reminded today and this week that while the cross is offensive, it is also the very power of God.
Rest in this knowledge that being considered foolish isn’t such a bad thing when you know Jesus!
Lady In Waiting 222 