The Cross and God's Power
The word of the cross ... is the power of God. (I Cor. 1:18)
I Cor 1:10-25 and 2:4-5; Acts 18:24-28; Rom. 1:16 and 5:6-11; Col. 2:8
What Is God Saying?
Apollos was a Jewish Christian from Alexandria. Traveling through Asia Minor, he found a haven in Ephesus where Priscilla and Aquila taught him in the Scriptures. He crossed over to Greece and came to Corinth. There, his eloquence attracted many followers. It was almost inevitable that there were comparisons between Paul and Apollos. Add the following that Peter gained a reputation as a leader of the Apostles. There was a fourth group that claimed the exclusive right to the name, Christian. We have a similar situation in that, as Christians, we are split into numerous denominations.
Against this Paul asks one searching question, ‘Is Christ divided?’ Paul and Apollos were on the same team. Yet, because so many were following Apollos with his eloquence, and turning away from Paul with his plain speech, it needed to be said, ‘We simply give you the word of the cross-the power of God. It is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (I Cor. 1:21). Christ is not divided.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Preaching the cross will be a stumbling block to those who plan to succeed by good works. It will be foolishness to those who pride themselves on succeeding through philosophical thought and pure reasoning. Nevertheless, it is God's chosen way. That is the point and purpose of I Cor. 1:27. The cross melts our pride and defeats our intellectual defences and pretences. It tells us how much God loves us. ‘But God showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ That is the power of redemption, the power of a second chance in this life. We can receive His righteousness now and forever. The word of the cross is, in fact, the power of God.
Pray With Me
O God, in Your great love, You have spoken to us by the cross. I have looked at the cross but not always seen what, for my sake, love was doing there. I have heard the word of the cross, but have not always understood that word to be the power of God. Bring my careless feet to a halt. Smite the boasting of pride. Silence the voice of complaint. Only then, in the quietness and confidence of God-given faith, will my heart burn with new hope. Only when I am reverently attentive to the word of the cross will my life be revived by the power of my risen and glorious Lord.
To the world, the word of the cross is weakness and foolishness. Yet we know it to be the power and wisdom of God. We know that the word of the cross uncovers the shame people try to hide. We know that the word of the cross exposes the sin people try to excuse. We know that the word of the cross is ‘love so amazing, so divine.’ It can deliver people from the tyranny of evil which leads to death. It can bring people under the dominion of righteousness which leads to life. For such the power of love and mercy, the power of a fresh beginning and a new life, the power of Your fully redeeming grace, O God, I thank You.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
In prayer, we lift our hearts in praise. In prayer, we ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name. Also, in prayer, we contemplate His deathless love. The shadow of the cross falls across our hearts and fills them with pure light. We remember His love and we become loving. We remember His mercy and we become merciful. We remember His forgiveness and become merciful. The word of the cross is the power of God to lift us when discouraged, to guide us when confused, to strengthen us when weak, and to lead us through the door of death to the Gates of Life. There is power in prayer. It's the power of God.
