Lenten Devotions - Day 38

“Friends, when I came and told you the mystery that God had shared with us, I didn’t use big words or try to sound wise. In fact, while I was with you, I made up my mind to speak only about Jesus Christ, who had been nailed to a cross. At first, I was weak and trembling with fear. When I talked with you or preached, I didn't try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God's Spirit show his power. That way you would have faith because of God's power and not because of human wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

It is tempting to reduce the gospel and a life of faith to what we can accomplish with our gifts, talents, and strength. It is easy to style our church work after the manner of the business community, as we look for scientific models, procedures, and tested strategies for growing a church, building a denomination, or adding numbers to membership, attendance, and financial giving. While there is some validity to all of this, Paul points to something greater than strategies and human know how.

Some would try to tell us that if we simply proclaim the true gospel people will flock to hear. They would tell us we are not responsible for presenting Christ in an appropriate manner, only that the gospel be pronounced. That is not what Paul has in mind, either. Neither does Paul envision the proclamation of the gospel as a science of strategy and luring hearers through convincing arguments. He does, however, point to some sort of middle road between the extremes. His own manner of proclamation in Corinth was taken with care not to harm the reputation of the gospel. Likewise, he took pains not to reduce the gospel to a strategy of human wisdom and undertaking. He also did not resort to preying upon the emotional needs of a people, luring people with a sugar-coated message.

He wanted people to understand the message of Christ Jesus. He made no attempt to hide the fact of the crucifixion. He didn’t attempt to explain away the scourge of shame heaped on Jesus as he paved the way of grace through faith. He didn’t try to fashion the gospel into a system of intellectuality. He simply presented Christ Jesus in a manner that could be heard. He wanted people to hear the message of Jesus and allow God to do the work of convincing them of the truth.

Amid all the possible strategies for bringing the gospel message to the Corinthians, the one adopted by Paul was to live its tenets, allowing his example to back up his proclamation of Christ Jesus. He did not take the guise of another peddler of wisdom in the Corinthian marketplace. He simply presented Christ Jesus as crucified, taking the brunt of our sin, and offering grace, love, and forgiveness in exchange.

Paul was not sure how he would be received. He began his preaching with fear and trembling. He knew that Jesus had been crucified for the message Paul now proclaimed. As his Lord, however, Paul chose the path of presenting the gospel of God’s love in word and deed. There would be those who heard and heeded. There would be those who would wish him crucified, as well. It would be through a small few that Christ would build a gathering in Corinth. There would be a few who struggled like those original disciples to understand the gospel as a message to live and share with others after the example of Christ Jesus.

Determine how God would use your life to present the gospel of Christ to others.

“Lord, grant me the strength to live your gospel and share its message with others.”

—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/

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