I Corinthians 1:26-29
“For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no human may boast before God.”
While this isn’t flattering about us, it’s an honor to be chosen and used by God. We don’t have to be the stars to count. He loves us and wants to use us. This is so hopeful. I’ve heard it said that “God doesn’t call the equipped, but equips the called”.
Jesus models being humble. From His beginning to the end He was humble. Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” This was how the elite saw Him. They thought they were high above Him. They wanted a messiah who was of their class.
What’s ironic is that the elite weren’t persuaded by miracles. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. That should have given them pause. Instead they went full steam ahead in their plans to kill Him. They were so crazed in their obsession against Him that they wanted to kill Lazarus as well (John 12:10).
Acts 4:13 says that God can take ordinary, unschooled people and use them mightily, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” This is awesome. Our God is great. He takes the ordinary and uses them greatly.
God will use plain people and use them for His glory. The last part of today’s passage says that “no human will boast before God”. That’s great. We don’t want the credit. We want Him to get it.
What’s interesting is that God wants to give honor to His children. I Samuel 2:30 says, “I will honor those who honor Me”. We don’t want or need it. He does it when He chooses. We want Him to get the glory. We want others to come to Him. More athletes seem to be giving Him credit. That’s awesome how they do that.
Thank You, Lord, that You use us lowly one’s. We pray that You would get the glory and that many will come to You.