A Hardened Heart

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Pete

It really is a pretty tough piece of leather. While I’d love to think of it in its Valentines portrayal as plump, and pink, and pumping out vibes of love, this morning’s reading in Mark warns me that, more often than I am probably aware, my heart is still deflated, dark, and dull of understanding.

End of Mark 6 . . . Jesus has just fed five thousand men and their families with five loaves and two fish (6:30-43). And “they all ate and were satisfied” with twelve “take out” baskets to spare. Jesus then goes to a mountain to pray privately (6:46) and His disciples get in a boat and try to cross the sea “painfully” (6:48a). And so, Jesus “came to them walking on the sea” (6:48b).

. . . but when they saw Him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

(Mark 6:49-52 ESV)

Their hearts were hardened . . . that’s what I’m chewing on this morning. And the most famous of the “heart hardened” comes to mind, Pharaoh. Yeah, THAT Pharaoh. The Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. The “let my people go” Pharaoh who despite seeing signs and wonders of increasing marvel and magnitude, was incapable of connecting them to the God who worked such signs and wonders. Kind of like Jesus’ disciples, it seems, who “did not understand about the loaves.”

How could that be? For unlike Pharaoh who was clearly a foe of God, these guys were followers of God. So, what does that say about the heart? Tough as a piece of leather, I’m thinking.

That’s why God through the prophet said that when cleansing from sin would come, it would come with a heart transplant.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.”

(Ezekiel 36:24-27 ESV)

A new heart. A heart of flesh. To replace the heart of stone (which sounds very much like a hardened heart).

And we know that, while the transplant has occurred, the transformation is still in progress. Our old man, our old woman, our flesh is still way too operative.

And so, when I get kind of judgy reading about the disciples not getting it, not understanding the implications of following Someone able to feed five thousand with a few loaves and few fish; when I shake my head and roll my eyes that they had been so close to Jesus for so long and still appeared to get so little; I need to humble myself and wonder how my hardened heart is making me dull to the wonders and ways of my salvation. Not wondering if I’m dull, but wary of how I may be dull.

This morning, I read that short statement, their hearts were hardened, not so much as a criticism of them but as a diagnosis for me. For as far as I might think I’ve come, how much farther do I still have to go? For all that think I understand, how much have I not really understood or understood but in part? For as much as I believe, how much help do I still need with my unbelief?

Foolish of me, I think, to not think there is still a dullness which needs to be dealt with, a thickness that still needs to be thinned out, a dependence upon the Spirit that still needs to be deepened.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

(James 4:10 ESV)

By His grace. For His glory.

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Weighted with Worship

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Pete

There’s praise amidst the problems. Worship despite the worry. Thanksgiving even among the threat.

That’s the overall sense I get as I noodle on Psalm 86 this morning.

It’s a song of David. A “poor and needy” David sings of a “band of ruthless men” having risen up against him and seeking his life. “All the day,” David’s plea has been “preserve my life.” When the going get’s tough, time to cry out!

But here’s the thing, even in his desperate situation, it’s not all 9-1-1 prayers. Though it’s being “in the day of trouble” that compels David to call on God, David doesn’t do so without also remembering who the God is he is calling out to — he also renders to God the honor and glory due His name. So, while David repeatedly asks God to be gracious to him; though he pleads with God for grace to find strength; though he cries out, “Show me a sign of Your favor”; still his song is also heavily weighted with worship.

There is none like You among the gods, O Lord,
       nor are there any works like Yours.
All the nations You have made shall come
       and worship before You,
       O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.
For You are great and do wondrous things;
       You alone are God.
Teach me Your way, O LORD,
       that I may walk in Your truth;
       unite my heart to fear Your name.
I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
       and I will glorify Your name forever.
For great is Your steadfast love toward me;
       You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

(Psalm 86:8-13 ESV)

David’s not just lobbing up some last-ditch, “hail Mary” attempt at prayer as he cries out for God’s intervention. Rather, he calls upon the God whom he has known. Known, through the sacred record of Moses, as the God who called Abraham with a promise and delivered the children of Israel from Egypt with a vengeance. Known, in his own experience, having been personally called by God to the throne, empowered of God to slay the giant, lifted up by God to experience the mountain top, and cared for by God in valley after valley. David cries out to the God who he has encountered up close and personal, again and again, as the God who proves Himself faithful.

And so while David knows the need for the day is great, David also knows that His God is greater. Though there is a pit in his stomach as he awakes and wonders how he will combat his enemies this day, there is also praise on his tongue as he remembers that there is none like his God–the God who has promised never to leave him nor forsake him. So while he might want to refuse the day before him, yet will He rejoice in his God who walks beside him.

Gladden the soul of your servant,
       for to You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

(Psalm 86:4 ESV)

Even in hard seasons and trying circumstance, our God infuses a certain joy within the soul lifted up to Him. He puts praise on the tongue of those who will take but a few minutes to meditate on Him. He gives a new song to the voice that will declare, despite the circumstance, “You are worthy!”

A gladdened soul, that’s what God gives regardless of the circumstance. Prayers weighted with worship, even in times of worry. Because of a good, good Father who never changes.

Praise Him for His abounding grace. Worship Him, giving Him everlasting glory!

Amen?

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A Highway in the Heart

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Pete

The reason Psalm 84 resonates so deeply is because I have the same programming. That I too would consider the dwelling place of God “lovely” (v.1), that I would feel what the songwriters felt when they sung, “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD” (v.2) is because we have both had the same coordinates internally implanted. To sing along with sincerity and gusto that a day in the courts of the living God is better than a thousand elsewhere (v.10a) and to belt out at the top of my lungs that “I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin” (v.10b MSG) happens only because I have the same internal, Spirit-powered GPS installed as was in the Sons of Korah. Their song my song because of highways in the heart.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house,
       ever singing Your praise!        Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
       in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

(Psalm 84:4-5 ESV)

Blessed are those . . . in whose heart are the highways . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

Chewing on the reality that there is something planted in the depths of those who are redeemed that ignites a desire for their Redeemer. Something woven into the fabric of those who have been delivered that compels them to want to be in the presence of their Deliver. Something sown within the saved that longs to be watered by the Savior. The psalmists call it highways in the heart.

All roads leading to His house. Every path a way into His presence. Even when we take a wrong turn or yield to the temptation to go down the wrong path, there’s a “Home” icon programmed within the GPS of a new creation in Christ (2Cor. 5:17) which shows the way back to the place where even “the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest” (v.3). Highways in the heart leading to havens of rest and places of worship.

Can’t help but think that one of the most worn of those highways is the way back to the cross. That well-worn and deep rutted road that leads to Calvary, the place where the depths of God’s love was shown and the place where my freedom was forever won. The road of confession and repentance leading to an ever-flowing and overflowing fountain of washing and renewal — washed in His blood, renewed by His Spirit. Oh, what a blessed road! Oh, what a holy highway! A highway in the heart.

By His grace. For His glory.

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We Can’t Do It

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Pete

It’s kind of a puzzling verse. Kind of “Debbie Downer”-esque. A bit of a wet blanket thrown on what should have been a motivational moment. But noodle on it a bit, and you know Joshua’s right when he says, in effect, “You can’t do it!”

The setting? The promised land is conquered, and the territories have been distributed. The initial phases of “Operation Land of Milk and Honey” are complete. All that’s left for fully enjoying the land gifted them, and for reaping the bounty promised them, is some clean up and some on-going maintenance. Oh, and one other thing, some fidelity. Some loyalty. Some devotion and constancy of commitment. And so, before heading back into the day-to-day routines of possessing the land, Joshua seeks to spur on God’s people.

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

(Joshua 24:14-15 ESV)

As you embark on a new life in a new land, says Joshua, toss the old stuff. “Fear GOD. Worship Him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped . . . As for me and my family, we’ll worship GOD!” (MSG). Great half-time encouragement for a team heading back into the game. What an inspiring invocation.

And the people respond as you’d want them to respond.

“We will also serve the LORD, for He is our God.”

(Joshua 24:18b ESV)

Great! Right answer! Everybody . . . hands in the middle . . . One! Two! Three! Break! Let’s go do this!

Uh, not so fast. That’s not quite what Joshua does. Cue Debbie Downer . . .

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”

(Joshua 24:19-20 ESV)

You are not able to serve the LORD . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

You might want to. You might plan to. You might try to. But you can’t do it. Not on your own at least.

Rather than heading back into the game haughty and overconfident, Joshua wanted to send them into the fray humbled and utterly dependent. For he knew that the enemy of sincerity and faithfulness was the hearts propensity towards idolatry and fickleness. Whether it be the temptation to serve the gods their fathers served, or the lure to be enamored with the foreign gods of the world they were settling into, Joshua knew that when it came to serving the LORD with a whole heart, it would be really hard.

No coasting. They would need to intentionally, and repeatedly, put away the foreign gods around them if they were going to faithfully serve the God whose presence was among them. And though they might have a holy determination to serve the LORD, they needed also the humble realization that apart from remaining in Him, they could do nothing (John 15:5).

Fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness . . . We just can’t do it.

We should want to do it. We should make every effort to do it. We should confess and repent when we fail to do it. But, when all is said and done, we can’t do it on our own.

Praise God, we are not on our own. Praise God that we can, in fact, obey and work out our “own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Php. 2:12-13). Ours is to confess our frailty and to humble ourselves before the Lord (James 4:10). Then He will “exalt us” (ESV), “lift us up” (NKJV), and empower us to live in sincerity and faithfulness in the land.

By His ever-present, over-flowing, always sufficient grace.

For His all-deserving glory.

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Preparing the Soil

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Pete

A short thought on the Parable of the Sower and the Seed (Mark 4:1-20). A parable whose principle I think is still vital even for those of us well down the road on their walk with Jesus.

Jesus said that if His disciples didn’t understand this parable, how then could they understand others (4:13). Saying, in effect, that this parable was a 101 parable and that if they couldn’t get it, then the 201 and 301 classes could be out of reach. In a sense, it was an underhand pitch, meant to be a gimme in the economy of “heavenly stories with an earthly meaning.” That if they weren’t picking up what was being laid down here, how were they going to keep up with His more complex word pictures?

But I’ve always felt Jesus was saying something else, as well, because Jesus was always ready to explain the meaning of His stories for those who had ears to hear (4:9). I think Jesus led with this parable because this story was the key to getting all the other stories. Specifically, that understanding the importance of the soil is paramount to realizing a harvest from the seed. And that we’re always preparing the soil.

“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” ~ Jesus

(Mark 4:14-20 ESV)

Taken away . . . falls away . . . wastes away . . . bears fruit. Those are the options. Those are the four things which can result when the sower sows the word.

Those with ears to hear are aware of the scenarios which affect sown seed, and it comes down to how prepared and how tended to the soil is. Is it unprepared, hardened ground, suitable for walking on but not for working in? Then Satan takes the word away. A sweep here, a gust of wind there, and it’s gone — never got past the ear drum or the eyeball.

Then, there’s shallow soil. Ready enough to receive the seed, but not ready enough to really believe the seed. Enough soil to show signs of life but not enough to sustain it. So, when persecution arises on account of the word — and it’s gonna arise, count on it! — they fall away. No footing, no fruit.

And then there’s those who have done some real work in preparing soil with enough depth to sustain real growth, but they are careless with the weeding. The allow the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things to enter in. And the stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it (4:19 MSG). FOMO results in NO MORE growth and the word proves unfruitful.

But then, there’s the good soil. The prepared soil. Soil watered from the heart with living water — the untethered, unhindered, abundant, free flowing Spirit of God (John 7:38-39). Soil broken up through contrition and repentance — the sort of ground where the Lord’s presence is found (Isa. 57:15). Soil weeded regularly through confession; the fertilizer of fresh forgiveness applied daily with mercies which are new every morning (1Jn. 1:9, Lam. 3:22-23). Good soil ready to receive the word — even when it’s a hard word, or a word that seems to be forcing them out of the ecclesiastical box they lived in for so long. Soft ground, rich ground, ground still ready to embrace the seed because it is the Sower’s seed. And they bear fruit.

Even for us seasoned saints, those who have done a lap or two in our pilgrim journey, we still need to be mindful that bearing fruit isn’t necessarily our default as long as the devil, the flesh, and the world are in play. That for us too, the seed can be taken away, or fall away, or waste away if the ground’s not good.

Yeah, we need to always be preparing the soil.

Amen?

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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Joined to the Lord

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Pete

It’s a profound truth kind of buried in an exhortation against sordid behavior. But Paul’s supporting argument for why a follower of Jesus should flee sexual immorality has vast implications beyond being a deterrent from sin. For what it reminds those who have ears to hear is that we are not just followers of Christ but also one with Christ.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality.

(1Corinthians 6:15-18a ESV)

Joined to the Lord . . . that’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

Talk only about being a member of the body of Christ and there can still be a sense of separate-ness as we may think of ourselves as still individual parts, but all brought together under one Head. But talk about being joined to Christ? Hmm . . . that’s seems a little more connected. Even, as Paul says, somewhat intimate.

Joined. Literally, “glued together.” Cemented and fastened to something else. To cleave, as in the “biblical sense” — two becoming one flesh. And that’s the believer’s state — glued, cemented, fastened together with the Lord. Joined to such an extent that we become one spirit with Him.

Try and wrap your head around that!

How often have we heard someone say, or perhaps said to ourselves, “If only I could have encountered Jesus as did His disciples — in the flesh, face-to-face — how that would affect my walk with Jesus. How it would make it easier to really follow Jesus.” But, until the sending of the Spirit, the disciples’ proximity to Jesus back then pales in comparison with ours now. They were with the Lord, but we are joined to the Lord. In some supernatural sense, the risen Son of God, Creator and Sustainer of all things forever, is One with us, and we are one spirit with Him. Doesn’t get much more up close and personal and powerful than that!

So why, so often, the distance? Why, at times, do we feel alone? Why, far from being One with Him, do we just feel far from Him?

More to answering that question than fits into a morning devo, but what comes to mind immediately, as perhaps a partial answer, is our abundance of flesh and our absence of faith.

While we have been redeemed from slavery to the flesh, from having to concede to the old nature, we are not yet free from the flesh. In fact, every morning we rise, a low-level, ever-present skirmish (sometimes a full-blown battle) recommences between the “desires of the flesh” and “the desires of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:17). And part of that battle is going to be an internal disinformation campaign telling us we are far from Christ. That we are on our own. When, in fact, we are joined to the Lord.

And that’s where faith comes in. I need to not only know the truth of being joined with Christ, I need to believe that truth. Just as salvation past — the forgiveness of sins — was by faith, so too salvation present — the fighting against sin — is by faith. For without faith, it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

So, this morning, by faith, I affirm the reality that I am in union with Christ. That I am joined to the Lord. That it really is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). That it is not about how is “me” going to get through this day, but about how are “we” going to do this.

Joined to the Lord. Worth meditating on, I think.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Avoid the Pride

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Pete

Let it go, Paul! It’s been four chapters already. Point made. Move on!

Of all the things that were hamstringing the Corinthian church, does division merit this much discussion? Evidently. How I need ears to hear.

If you’re familiar with the Corinth church you know that, while they were “not lacking in any gift” (1Cor. 1:7a), these beloved saints of the Lord were also not lacking in some pretty serious delusion and dysfunction. Tomorrow, I’m going to be reading about how they were proud of “graciously” allowing sexual immorality within their church family, “and that of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans” (1Cor. 5:1). Crazy! Right? But before getting to that — as a seemingly higher priority in dealing with their lack of church health — Paul’s gonna talk about the division in their midst . . . and talk . . . and talk . . . and talk.

The division in their church wasn’t theological and it wasn’t political. It was celebrity-ical. There was quarreling among them as each pledged their allegiance to a well-known preacher. Some followed Paul, some Apollos, and some Cephas, and some pledged faithfulness to just Jesus. And all were guilty of “cutting into pieces” (literal translation) Jesus (1Cor. 1:11-13a). Brothers and sisters hitching their carts to their chosen superstar and pulling apart the body of Christ. Each picking their preferred personality and pummeling the other for picking theirs. And it ends up at the top of Paul’s list to deal with because it was at the core of what would destroy the church’s witness.

And something I read in 1Corinthians 4 this morning sheds light on at the heart of division’s destructive dynamic.

After reiterating the preeminence of the cross preached and not the preachers preaching it; after rebuking the people for their infantile, spiritually immature posture towards proclaimers of the gospel; and after reinforcing that preaching the gospel, as shown by Paul and the other apostles, was about stewardship and not showmanship, Paul exposes the underlying motive of making much of others.

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers [and sisters], that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

(1Corinthians 4:6 ESV)

That none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another . . . that’s what I’m chewing this morning.

Here’s Wuest’s literal translation:

. . . to the end that you do not bear yourselves loftily, one on behalf of one individual as against another of a different character.

And here’s how Philips captures it, I think, most clearly:

. . . avoid the pride which comes from making one teacher more important than another.

Avoid the pride . . .

Paul knew that boasting in their favorite superstar was a prideful play to supercharge their own standing. That to be a follower of [pick your favorite preacher, teacher, or theologian] over [pick another exalted preacher, teacher, or theologian] was intended to say more about them as the follower than they as the celebrities.

That when saying, “I am of Apollos” or “I am of Paul” or “I am of Cephas” or “I am of Christ” (as more literally translated), the emphasis was not really on Apollos, Paul, or Cephas, or even Jesus, but on “I am.” On me. On the depth of my spirituality shown by the proclaiming of my allegiance. The intent behind separating celebrities one from another was really to separate their followers from the pack. Thus, causing division. Thus, “cutting into pieces” the body of Christ. Thus, being worthy of Paul’s priority attention and long-form rebuke.

Oh, the sin of pride. Manifest even as we pick a tribe led by our favorite gospel-proclaimer, as too often — if we’re honest with ourselves — we really just want to promote ourselves. And promoting ourselves only leads to division in the church. And division in the church hamstrings one of the greatest “proofs” for the gospel.

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ Jesus

(John 13:35 ESV)

Avoid the pride.

Okay, Paul. Four chapters. I think I get it. Oh, that I would get it.

By God’s grace.

For God’s glory.

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His Dove

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Pete

The church of God is a mighty church.

Ever heard that sentiment expressed in some manner? What about processing the promise that “we are more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37)? Makes it sound like the bride of Christ is not to be messed with, doesn’t it? After all, Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). Sounds like a pretty powerful people to me.

But something that popped in reading Psalm 74 has me re-thinking that proposition.

In Scripture, whether Old Testament or New Testament, the Spirit moves men to refer to the redeemed of God in various ways. They’re sheep. They’re a bride. They’re a congregation. They’re a holy temple. They’re sojourners. They’re saints. You get the idea . . . A lot of ways the people of God are described, each metaphor conveying some reality of those God has taken to be as His inheritance (another name for the people of God).

And this morning, I encountered one that I don’t think I’ve really had ears to hear before. Certainly not a word picture I’ve ever chewed on before.

Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to the wild beasts;
       do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

(Psalm 74:19 ESV)

Psalm 74 is another one of those “Where are You, God?” songs. A haunting melody overflowing with “We’re taking it in the teeth, LORD! How long?” lyrics. And so, the pleas to God: remember (v.1); direct Your steps (v. 3); have regard for Your promises (v. 20); arise and defend Your cause (v. 22). And do not deliver the soul of Your dove to the wild beasts.

Your dove . . . hmm, how’s that for a way to refer to the mighty people of God? And lest, we miss it’s intent, how about the parallel term following it to emphasize the point, Your poor?

Kind of comes across more meek than mighty. As more weak than wonderful. As more insipid than inspirational. More a sense of being . . . well, as the songwriter sings, poor than powerful.

Yeah. But “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3). Right?

We’re a dove. A timid, cooing bird amidst wild beasts. A poor and fragile people. Feeble against the flesh. Drooping against the devil. Weak against the world. So how is it the gates of hell shall not prevail against us? How is that we are, in reality, more than conquerors?

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

(Romans 8:37 ESV)

Through Him who loved us . . . that’s how the gates of hell shall not prevail.

Not our might. Not our power. Not our advanced degrees of sanctification. Not our self-validating checklists used to prove our justification.

Rather, His dove will prevail against those beasts because their God has promised never to leave her nor forsake her (Deut. 31:8, Heb. 13:5). His power made perfect through her weakness as His grace is shown all-sufficient for her every sorrow, suffering, and sad situation — the power of Christ resting upon her (2Cor. 12:9).

For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for Himself.

(1Samuel 12:22 ESV)

His dove. His frail, and frequently failing people. Yet, a people He is pleased to embrace as His own. Maybe not as mighty as we’d like to think of ourselves, but more loved than we can imagine.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Nothing to Brag About

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Pete

Continuing to read Paul’s opening words to the Corinth church. A church not “lacking in any gift” (1Cor. 1:7). Yet also a church not lacking in any drama, for “there is quarreling among you” (1Cor. 1:11). And that’s the just the beginning of the list of issues Paul’s going to address. I’ve read the letter enough times to know that, beyond the drama and division, we ain’t seen nothing yet! Buckle up! Dis church has a lot of dysfunction.

And so, Paul’s gonna have an exhortation or two along the way. Some to do’s which he will encourage the Corinthians to be doing — and some to stop doing. It’s the first of those “commands to obey” in this letter that causes me to pause this morning.

For consider your calling, brothers . . . (1Corinthians 1:26a ESV)

They were jockeying for position within their ecclesiastical food chain, and that based on who they followed. Quarreling about whether they were disciples of Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or – for the really spiritual among them — just Jesus. That somehow their Christian celebrity of choice should confer some prestige within their church of choice. To which Paul says, in effect, “You wanna take stock of where you’re at? Think about where you’ve come from.”

Consider your calling. Noodle on who you were. Remember how you ended up where you are.

I’m imagining this conversation . . .

       “Hello, I’d like to apply to be a child of God and a follower of Jesus.”

       “You can’t apply, you must be called.”

       “Okay then, I’m inquiring because I think I sense Him calling.”

       “Alright. Let’s see if you measure up. Would you be considered by this world to be among the brightest and best?”

       “Nope.”

       “How about influential?”

       “Not really.”

       “Do you at least come from a family of standing?”

       “Uh, not so much.”

       “Well then, would foolish, feeble, and/or forgotten by the world fit better with your resume?”

       “Yeah, that’s more like it.”

       “Good! You may be just what we’re looking for.”

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.

(1Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV)

Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.

(Agustus Toplady, Rock of Ages)

Consider your calling . . . Nothing to brag about.

Saved only by His grace. Saved only for His glory.

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Words

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Pete

Pause for a moment, and it really is kind of a shocking idea. Consider what’s being said and you can’t help but think to yourself, “Really? How can that be?” Think of the centrality of its place within the Christian experience and you gotta wonder, “Can it really be emptied of its power?”

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

(1Corinthians 1:17 ESV)

Lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

Emptied of its power. Made of no effect (KJV, NASB). Voided. Rendered impotent. Trivialized. Emptied of its meaning.

Paul’s talking about the cross of Christ here. The finished work of the Lamb of God. The once for all and forever atoning sacrifice for our sins, “and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1Jn. 2:2). So think, what does it mean for the cross of Christ to be emptied of its power? Unthinkable!

But perhaps more astounding is to realize what could do such a thing? What could neutralize “the power of God” for salvation (1Cor. 1:18). What could void the very thing which mightily and miraculously justifies sinners making them saints?

Words.

Words of eloquent wisdom. Clever and eloquent speech (AMP). A lot of fancy rhetoric (MSG). Wanna turn off the power of the cross? It can happen. With words.

Amazing, isn’t it? The right thing proclaimed in the wrong way can empty that redeeming, reconciling, and regenerating thing of its power.

Not that those who preach the gospel shouldn’t prepare. Not that those who declare Christ shouldn’t engage in due consideration of what is said and how. Not that evangelists shouldn’t be engaging. But if our confidence in the cross’s power to bring life is placed in the ability and power of someone to “bring the message”, then we’ve swapped out Christ’s finished work for our polished words.

If only a “good sermon” is able to bring about a great salvation, then we void the very thing able to make a new creation new. If we think we need a TED Talk in order to deliver from the domain of darkness and transfer to the kingdom of light, then we’ve lost our way when it comes to the power of God for salvation. For then we rely not on the working of the Spirit to fuel the fire of faith but instead depend on the marketing of men to close the deal.

Words. Beware of putting too much weight on words of eloquent wisdom.

Lest the cross Christ be emptied of its power.

And we fail to realize how much, even in sharing the good news, we need His grace.

And we foolishly think that somehow, because of our gift of gab, we deserve some of the glory.

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