A Foolish God? A Foolish Religion?

Considering Truths During Lent

Today's Devotional Thoughts

If my math is correct--which is always a roll of the dice, since I'm an English major--Good Friday is 12 days from today . . . 12 days until we observe the day our Savior died.

Today's Truth from Scripture

"The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, & the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.' Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs & Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews & folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called,both Jews & Greeks, Christ the power of God & the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, & the weakness of God is stronger than men."  1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Back to Some Devotional Thoughts

Consider this . . . if you were going to invent a God, invent a religion, wouldn't you go with a God who was more in the mold of one of the Avengers? A religion more along the lines of one that promised power . . . riches . . . rewards?

Or would you put your faith in the Savior & Gospel that St. Paul preached--a Savior who came down to earth to be a human being like one of us . . . lived among mortal men & women . . .  endured thick-headed disciples, a corrupt judicial system & mocking crowds . . . and ultimately found Himself nailed to a cross to die a horrifying death . . . to take our punishment when He Himself was innocent of all wrongdoing? I wonder . . . 

And our forgiveness & salvation comes from a God like this? Consider this. . . 

Today's Prayer

Lord Jesus, You ask us to be foolish. That is asking a lot. Bless us with the foolishness of God, which You promise is wiser than the wisdom of any human. We ask this in Your holy, saving Name. Amen.

Addendum

This devotion is adapted from one I wrote for the Daily Announcements of Lutheran High Northeast (Norfolk, NE) on 3/16/15.