Thoughts for the Day

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God...... Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord..

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Don't panic! This section from the first letter to the Corinthians, does make sense! St Paul is writing to the church in Corinth - not the building, but the people who are the 'church'. The Greek word for church is ekklesiai - an assembly of people. The Christians used it for the community of believers, both locally and nationally. Paul also calls it the 'Church of God'.

Paul knows this group of Christians well having spent a lot of time in Corinth, which was a rich, cosmopolitan city. However, the people were also known for their drunkenness, partying and sexual immorality. There were numerous temples to different gods, especially for the worship of Aphrodite, which had 1,000 female prostitutes and priestesses.

There have been disagreements among the new Christians and Paul addresses these. God has chosen what he calls the "foolish" not the "wise"; He didn't choose the nobility or the educated. He chose them. As one theologian says "they haven't been chosen because they are great, they have been chosen because God is so great!" (David Guzik).

God chose us to be His people, not because of our wealth or nobility. He chose us because He is so great. All we have to do is believe Him, and praise Him for all He does for us.

Saturday 29th August, follow up thoughts

Lord God
You call us to be Your people,
not because of what we have,
or what we can do,
but because of your generous love
for us.
We praise You for all Your love
and ask You to teach us
how to worship You each day.
Amen.