Not with Wisdom of Words...

1 Cor. 1:17-18 "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

I did a bit of studying on these verses this morning and came away feeling extremely challenged. "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom"...Paul didn't preach with the enticing words of men. He didn't feel the need to make what he said sound intelligent or well-learned. He didn't feel like he needed to sit around and debate that what he was preaching was the truth. He merely preached the gospel, knowing that the Word was powerful enough to do the work itself. There have been many times in the past when I've gotten into "discussions" with other people about what I believe and have come away from it feeling frustrated at my lack of being able to convince them of the truth. The problem was not with God or His Word. The problem was my lack of use of it. People don't need to think that I have all the answers. They simply need to hear the Word. Paul understood that and he knew that anytime he tried to preach according to his own fancy, the cross of Christ was going to be of no effect.

Reading these verses made me think of something I read recently about Adoniram Judson in "To the Golden Shore". After spending years in Burma, working with the people, facing the vicious emperors, experiencing extreme torture and imprisonment, devoting years to translating the Bible and undergoing the death of two wives and many children, Judson finally made a trip back to the States where he was asked to preach a sermon. It was a rainy day and the church was crowded with people who had learned he would have something to say. After the sermon, Judson had spoken for some fifteen minutes "with singular simplicity and touching pathos, of the love of the Saviour, what He has done for us and what we owe to Him". After He sat down, it was evident to the most unobservant eye that most of the listeners were disappointed. His third wife, Emily recollected that "after the exercises were over several persons inquired of me, frankly, why Dr. Judson had not talked of something else, why he had not told a story...On the way home I mentioned the subject to him."
"Why, what did they want?" he inquired; "I presented the most interesting subject in the world, to the best of my ability."
"But they wanted something different - a story."
"Well, I am sure I gave them a story - the most thrilling one that can be conceived of."
"But they had heard it before. They wanted something new of a man who had just come from the antipodes."
"Then I am glad they have it to say, that a man coming from the antipodes had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus' dying love."

Judson had caught the meaning of those verses that Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians. Judson was human and he made mistakes, but he understood that true power and greatness lay in the plain and simple gospel. His prayer was that God would forgive him for his lack of faith and "while He condescends to use me as an instrument, wipe the sin of unbelief from my heart."

That's my prayer for us. Every time I think of the cross and the gospel story behind it, I want to be held in awe of the incredible power that it gives to us as sinners, to become the child of God.

Grace and Peace- the favor of God and the reconciliation to Him- were things that Paul was constantly wishing upon the people he was writing to. What incredible things to have in your life. Keep seeking God, knowing that because of the foundation of Christs undying love and God's faithfulness, the work that was started in us will not be left unfinished.

Chrystal