Daily Devotional For Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Well, terrific Tuesday has rolled around again. I don’t know about you, but unfortunately I am a perfectionist. We are hard to live with due to our standards. If you are a perfectionist, then you understand. We don’t want just every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed, we want that dot over the “i” a certain way and that “t” crossed a certain way. And for those who have to live with or be around a perfectionist, it is challenging and frustrating. 

If you are a perfectionist, I want to absolve you of the pressure to be one. The truth is: no one is perfect, except for God. So, it is sad that no matter how much a perfectionist attempts to be perfect in whatever they do, they never can be that. We have a perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful God, so that job is taken. He recruits imperfect people like us so that, amid all the things we are not, what He is becomes more visible. 

But we’re not allowed to withdraw from the arena because we recognize how inadequate we are. That’s not a legitimate excuse, since the price that qualified us to stand before God was the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. It would be awkward to present ourselves to the Lord and say, “Sorry, but You didn’t do enough to empower me to make a difference.” The truth is we are not adequate, but He is more than adequate.

Look at 1 Corinthians 1:24-25:

“But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength” (NLT).

Since the position to be perfect has been taken by God, those of us who are “perfectionists,” need to give ourselves a break. In 1 Corinthians 1:24-25, the Apostle Paul uses the terms Jews and Gentiles to represent unbelieving Jews and Greeks. For those who believe in God’s Son, the crucified Christ is both the power of God and the wisdom of God. Jesus who is a stumbling block to the unbelieving Jew is Savior of the believing, and the One who is foolishness to the unbelieving Gentile is Redeemer to the believing. Pastor and author John MacArthur writes this about this:

“In mentioning God’s foolishness and weakness the apostle is, of course, speaking from the unbeliever’s point of view. Ironically, and tragically, the very part of God’s plan and work that seems most ridiculous and useless from man’s natural standpoint actually exhibits His greatest power and greatest wisdom” (Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “1 Corinthians,” p. 47).

And since God is perfect, omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (all-present) and omniscient (all-knowing), the Apostle Paul says that even if it were possible for God to have or be foolish in some sense, God’s foolishness would be better than man’s wisdom. And if it were possible for God to have some kind of weakness, Paul’s point is that even this weakness would be stronger than man’s greatest strength. God’s power is unmeasurable by human standards and it is incomprehensible by human wisdom. 

For the Jews, they looked to a political Messiah that would overthrow Rome and establish Israel as the super-power, thus ushering in the Davidic dynasty and kingdom. We see this in Matthew 27:42, “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! So He is the King of Israel, is He? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in Him!” (NLT). Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes this:

“Instead, Jesus had performed His miracles among smaller groups of the disenfranchised, despised, and rejected. He preached a message of repentance, righteousness, and peace. He called for self-sacrificial surrender to the will of God, following in His footsteps—even to the cross, if necessary. He refused to perform miracles on demand (Matt. 12:38–41), alienating the religious zealots who were eager to overturn the political establishment for their own vindication. How could the Jews believe that this Jesus was their long-awaited Savior? This peasant preacher of Nazareth was a “letdown” in their eyes, and so they stumbled because of misguided expectations (1 Cor. 1:23).

The Greeks’ search for wisdom took a different path, but ended up at the same dead end. They looked for either an illustrious philosopher-king or a wise seer-sage who could tap into the loftiest thoughts of the realm of the mind and soul and who would satisfy the human longing for a utopian society (Acts 17:18–21). Instead, they learned about a divine ruler who humbled Himself to be born a poor Jew, grew into manhood in obscurity, and spent three years speaking parables about a kingdom characterized by irrational altruistic virtues. 

Instead of founding a school of philosophy, this would-be sage ended His ministry betrayed by His own people and abandoned by most of His disciples—hardly good PR for a budding academic with His sights set on global influence! In short, a heroic religious figure like Jesus, the crucified Messiah, scandalized the Greek mind (1 Cor. 1:23). In the world’s eyes, the gospel of Jesus Christ is foolishness; but for us who believe, Christ is power and wisdom personified (1:24). In fact, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, Vol. 7,  “1 & 2 Corinthians ,” p. 40).

Questions To Consider

1. Are you a perfectionist? If yes, how challenging are you to be around? If you are not, do you expect it from others you work with, live with or associate with? Why or why not?
2. We live in a world where we get enamored with talent, intelligence, influence, power, position and rank. When it comes to who Jesus Christ is, the world is in the dark as to Who He really is. Even how the world views some of Jesus’ actions or attitudes or teachings are foolish, His wisdom tops theirs infinitely. Are there issues or questions you have about Jesus that cause you to question some of Jesus’ wisdom or commands? Why or why not? If you say “no,” is your obedience consistent to substantiate this? Why or why not?
3. When we go off to college, we can easily be swayed, swooned and swallowed up by elitist professors with their Ph. D’s that are impressive but not perfect. Do you just accept as truth what “scholars” say is truth without checking it out? Why or why not?
4. When it comes to the people you associate with, how do they view who Jesus is? How do you attempt to help them see Jesus as the Bible describes who He really is?

Scripture To Meditate On: Colossians 2:2-4, “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (4) I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I praise You for Your wisdom. I praise You that no matter how smart the world thinks it is, You’re wiser and more trustworthy. Please forgive when I do not trust You by either going my own way or listening to others whose advice goes against Your word and wisdom. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly