Observation: Paul discusses the reasoning for faith. The verses to come are better know, stating that the Jews and Greeks (aka everyone) seeks miraculous and logical evidence, but Christian preach "Christ crucified", which seems foolish. However, verse 21 clarifies why the Lord has chosen something that is both basic and illogical to bring grace and salvation into the world ... the world already soundly rejected his wisdom; his miraculous and logical evidence.
God wisely cared for Adam, miraculously creating a garden and a partner, and logically providing for his daily needs. God wisely advised Egypt, using Joseph to miraculously interpret a dream then logically administer food supplies. God wisely guided the Jews during the exodus, miraculously taking them through the sea then logically instructing them to enter the promised land. God wisely taught other people about the world, miraculously giving Solomon his own wisdom then logically bringing people like the Queen of Sheba to learn from him. These are only the most basic examples, but throughout the world - throughout history - the Lord has shown his wisdom and love through his miracles (like created life itself) and his logic (like the scientific order to chemistry).
Humans rejected, and still reject, all of God's wisdom, logic, and miracles. So instead, he did something completely illogical ... promised and then sent his most valuable being, his own son, a true extension of himself, and killed him in a backwater province of the empire before he ever moved about the world, went anywhere of significance, or even spoke to many people. And make no mistake ... Jerusalem of the time was the largest place Jesus went, and it had a population under 50,000 (smaller than Bothell WA today), and the largest crowd Jesus ever spoke to was likely less than 15,000 (20 percent of a typical NFL game attendance), and his entire ministry was 3.5 years (I've had projects take longer).
The world would not - will not - pay attention to the Lord when he presents himself in significant ways, so instead ... he hid himself and whispered, 'here I am, come seek me' and billions upon billions have.
Application: I preach foolishness ... 'Christ crucified'. I have fallen into the trap before of trying to tell people the logic of God, of debating the wonder of even evolution as proof of an intelligent creator, and of telling of miracles I have seen first-hand and thousands more I've heard of second-hand. It effectively never convinces anyone. God's wisdom is rejected by the world, replaced by satan's lies. However, satan can do nothing about the truth of 'Christ crucified' ... that Jesus was predicted, real, killed, and resurrected, and that by faith we therefore declare belief in the Lord and receive eternal salvation.
Prayer: Lord, may I have an opportunity today and every day to preach 'Christ crucified', that God so loves the world that he sent his son to die and rise again so they may have eternal life. Amen.
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