24^th October 2009

1 Cor 1:23-24

“We preach Christ crucified
The power of God and the wisdom of God”.

This message does not make sense to the man in the street,
to those who are alienated from God.
That one hanging on a criminals cross
with the crowd crying “crucify Him, crucify Him”
can become for such people the power and wisdom of God.
That the Son of God dying a criminals death and crying out
“My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me”
could even become their Lord and Savior.

But the message of Good Friday is not
that we become the inheritors of wisdom and power,
but rather that the crucified Christ? presence within us
becomes the power and glory of God working through us.

Paul?s first statement is that
“we preach Christ crucified”.
The challenges we face today
is not much different from those that Paul faced
and Paul?s answer to those problems
was to „preach Christ crucified”.
We receive the wisdom and power of God
not so that we can exhibit His power and wisdom
but so that we can “preach Christ crucified”

As Paul says in 1 Cor. 1:18
“The word of the cross
is to those who are perishing foolishness,
but to those who are being saved
it is the power of God”.
And note that we are “being saved”
The continuing, ongoing grace of God
working in us.