1 Corinthians 1:26-31
God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to save humans from destruction. He took up our sin and died on the cross, shedding His blood to save us from our sin. God built churches to share the Good news to all nations. The Church should win dying souls by witnessing Jesus. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are.” Therefore nothing in the world, such as wisdom, richness, or strength, can be compared to God’s things. The wisdom of the Jews nailed Jesus Christ on the cross and the wisdom of the world tries to understand Jesus Christ as a founder of a religion. But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-21). God choose those who follow His wisdom and entrusts His work to them. So the disciples evangelized and we also share the gospel today. The Church is the great worker of the Lord. Jesus Christ endowed mission to His disciples and churches (Acts 1:8; John 14:12).
The Bible says, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” It means that you do not give your life to gain the whole world. So how should we use our life which is greater than the whole world? Do not try to get worldly things which are lesser than life but try to use it for winning souls which are greater than life. If the disciples stopped spreading the gospel though they built churches, we would not have heard the news of salvation. We would live and die then go to hell. However the disciples preached the gospel, risking their lives, and those who have heard the gospel from them shared the gospel to Korea. We have received the mission, so let’s evangelize. Whoever wants to work through Jesus Christ will not be limited by man’s wisdom.
Though you are in the church, if you don’t have faith, you belong to the world and are neglecting the power and wisdom of the Lord. You will not take up the cross. The “Cross” is when one who is innocent is suffering, taking up another’s sin instead of them. We should run even to the point of death taking up all the burdens silently, though we are falsely accused, neglected and despised to follow the Lord and win our neighbor’s soul, taking up my own cross. Paul considered the worldly dream as rubbish. He regarded the cross as foolish, but he became to regard the cross as the best treasure (Romans 8:17-18). When we are suffering taking up the cross, we should surely know the glory that will be revealed in us then we can endure the suffering. The great worker of the Lord should see the glory that will be revealed in them (2 Timothy 4:5-8).
Dear brothers and sisters let us give thanks to the Lord as the co-workers of the Lord and be great faithful workers of the Lord.
2013.12.8
